NCEL 2010/11 Match Review #65
21st April, 2011
Congratulations to Farsley AFC who have become the KoolSport NCEL Premier Division champions.
Bridlington Town's 2-0 defeat at Winterton Rangers - courtesy of late goals from Graeme Severn and Liam Wilkin - means that the Throstle Nest outfit can no longer be caught at the top of the table.
It is a most deserved title for them as they have led the league for most of the season.
And, they are still on course to become the first team in NCEL history to claim the treble after they reached the League Cup Final on Tuesday night.
But, they were pushed all the way by their Division One visitors Handsworth who were just seconds away from knocking them out.
Alex Torr and Sam Smith netted for the away side with Lewis Nightingale scoring for the hosts in between, making it 2-1 going into second-half injury time.
Ben Jones then popped up to level the scores and take it into extra-time and, from thereon, it was Farsley's game as Ryan Watson put them in the lead and Jones got his second to secure a 4-2 victory.
Farsley now face Winterton Rangers at Staveley Miners Welfare's Inkersall Road ground on May Day - but, before that, they are in the President's Cup Final against Tadcaster Albion next Wednesday.
The fight to avoid relegation from the Premier Division is continuing to hot up with both the sides trying to escape - Arnold Town and Hallam - losing in midweek.
Hallam stay next-to-bottom after their 3-0 loss at Brighouse Town whilst a Ryan Blott hat-trick condemned Arnold to a 4-3 home defeat to Scarborough Athletic.
With two games to go, Hallam are three points behind Arnold with a worse goal difference.
Tadcaster kept themselves in fourth spot with a 3-0 home victory over Long Eaton United, Callum Ward with a brace and Nick Thompson scoring the third for the Brewers.
And, in Division One, Pontefract Collieries' promotion chase is now over after they were beaten 2-0 at Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.
Craig Marsh opened the scoring on the hour and Adam Podmore ensured the win for the hosts with three minutes remaining.