The Celts held on to second place in the UniBond Premier despite their 14-match unbeaten run coming to a grinding halt thanks to a double from the penalty spot for Leek Town.

Promotion-chasing Farsley played out a five-goal thriller but it proved to be an unlucky 15 for them as the visitors took all the points.

Matt Haddrell was the Staffordshire side's hero with two coolly-taken spot-kicks.

Skipper Haddrell opened the scoring in the ninth minute after David Whittaker had latched on to a long punt and been felled by Farsley's Tom Morgan.

The home side levelled with a superb goal from midfielder Amjad Iqbal. He took possession inside his own half and raced to the edge of the area and, with only the keeper to beat, drilled the ball in.

The match was finely balanced at half-time, but things soon changed with a controversial second penalty award.

Just 11 minutes into the second half, Dave McPherson appeared to be offside when he gathered the ball.

When no flag came, they gave chase but McPherson reached the area where he was adjudged to have been brought down, once again, by Morgan.

Haddrell's second penalty was added to by Whittaker ten minutes from time to give Leek a 3-1 lead but James Knowles set up a tense finale when he netted from a central position three minutes later.

"It was a frustrating result from a very eventful game," said disappointed Celts boss Lee Sinnott.

"The assistant referee got it wrong for the second penalty, no doubt about it, and we had a word with the officials on that score. But there are bigger issues closer to home. Bad defending cost us and we have to look at ourselves.

"There is still a long way to go, 15 games in the league, and a lot of points to play for.

"It is a question of us getting back to what we were doing a month ago, it comes down to hard graft."

Added Sinnott: "Nothing comes for free in this game, nothing's given. We have to show the commitment and desire that was in abundance earlier.

"The players are not operating as a unit, they were so good at that when this run started.

"I think tomorrow's cup game against Guiseley will help in that respect. It is a quarter-final and a local derby - that should get the adrenaline going."