An exit from the UniBond Chairman's Cup by the odd strike in a five-goal thriller equated to a bad day at the office for Farsley Celtic manager Lee Sinnott.

The Celts were not at full strength, not firing on all cylinders and - despite coming back from a goal down twice in the first half - were not deserving of a win.

"It was a close game but not as much as the scoreline suggests," said former Bantam Sinnott.

"We didn't deserve to take anything from it. We just didn't click on the day.

"I know we had four regulars missing but the players who came in to replace them were of equal quality, yet we never looked comfortable.

"It was a boggy surface, but we're not going to use that as an excuse.

"The conditions weren't to blame - we just never got to grips with them.

"We have been in good form recently and hopefully this was just a blip, but it is very disappointing to go out of a cup competition at the quarter-final stage."

The only plus for the manager was that Stephen Ball played the whole of the match.

The left back was making his return to the first team following his serious injury at Gateshead in a league game back in October.

Leek, who are above the Celts in the Division One table, took an early lead when David Whittaker netted in the second minute. Farsley soon levelled, Mark Bett stabbing home following a tenth- minute corner.

The home side regained the lead through Martin Ridley in the 40th minute, but on the stroke of half-time Farsley equalised.

Lee Calvert was brought down outside the area and Michael Midwood's 24-yard free-kick took a slight deflection on its way in.

Whittaker missed from the spot on the hour after Celts keeper Tom Morgan was adjudged to have brought Mark Roberts down.

Morgan did not have a save to make as the centre forward fired his penalty wide of the target.

Leek were not be deprived of a place in the last four and Phil Hadland booked them a semi-final berth with a 74th-minute strike.