Another victory for Farsley Celtic kept them within a point of the summit of the UniBond Premier Division and heaped the pressure on the chasing pack as severe weather decimated the fixture list.

It was not a classic performance from the Celts - by their own standards, they struggled for fluency - but the three points were vital in the race for promotion.

When they took the lead in the 41st minute, coincidentally as a double rainbow appeared over Throstle Nest, they were briefly at the top of the table.

News of a home win for Frickley, the only other club in the top five to play, awaited the players at the final whistle. That keeps Farsley second and their West Yorkshire rivals out in front by one point.

The title is by no means settled as any one of five teams could still claim the prize and the rise to the Conference North that comes with it.

Farsley's victory, however, maintains their interest and puts them in good

spirits for tomorrow's League Cup final.

"We struggled but we found the answers eventually," said Celts boss Lee Sinnott.

"Lincoln hadn't played for ten days, whereas we had played three times in that period. I looked at the players and from the start it was obvious that Lincoln were more sprightly than our lads.

"I think Lincoln can feel a bit unfortunate as it was never a 3-0 game. We didn't control it to that extent but we have done what we had to do and another three goals, along with a clean sheet, are very welcome.

"At this stage of the season, it is more about results than performances and that was the first thing I said to the lads after the game. I told them they had got away with being under par.

"That doesn't happen very often and if it did I would be the first to start wielding the axe when it came to team selection. I'm in this business to win football matches; there is no room for sentiment."

It was a strangely subdued game, which could have been down to the dreadful, changeable weather. There were people on the pitch with forks before kick-off, getting rid of surface water in brilliant sunshine.

The sun was still as strong throughout

a drenching shower and the fierce hailstorm that followed it. The pitch must have been treacherous and it was a credit to both teams that the game was played in a good spirit.

There was a flashpoint on the hour mark when Kevin Sanasy was lucky to stay in the field but even that was kept in check.

Sanasy's frustration at not being awarded as many free-kicks as he should have been manifested itself with a robust sliding challenge from behind on Ben Brown. Players from both sides wanted to get involved but the incident was handled well by the referee, who settled everyone down and restored order.

Brown also did his best by climbing to his feet as soon as the pain wore off. The upshot was a yellow card for Sanasy and the same for his team-mate Andy Watson, who went nose to nose across the perimeter fencing with someone in a Lincoln United tracksuit who was giving the officials his opinion on the matter.

Fortunately it did not descend into chaos - the game deserved that. In the main it was hard but fair. Lincoln could not even complain about the penalty award that led to Farsley's opener.

Simeon Bambrook was in the middle of producing the only quality move of the first half. A strong run and a quick turn bamboozled his marker Ian Wilkins and resulted in a foul. Bambrook hauled himself up to blast the spot-kick home.

Roy Stamer came on minutes into the second half to replace James Knowles and in the 53rd minute his cross into the area took a bounce. Damian Reeves had his back to goal but hooked it in with a right-foot flick.

Just six minutes from time, Watson

concluded the scoring in emphatic style with a thumping shot from 20 yards.

It took a slight deflection after he had picked the ball up near the halfway line and motored down the wing before cutting across the edge of the area.