We didn't deserve to get beaten, claims Farsley boss Parsley

Farsley’s hopes of finishing in the Evo-Stik Division One North play-off places suffered yet another blow as they were narrowly beaten at home by ten-man Lancaster City.

Visiting midfielder Simon Willis picked up a second yellow card in the 67th minute but the home side could not make the advantage count.

Indeed, Farsley had their own problems after losing two centre backs late in the first half.

Rob Etherington had to leave the field through illness and his replacement, assistant player-manager Mark Jackson, lasted just nine minutes. The big defender landed awkwardly and immediately signalled to the bench.

As if the constant defensive reshuffling was not enough for Farsley boss Neil Parsley to contend with, his side were left frustrated as, for the second game, and defeat, running they failed to convert from the penalty spot.

Parsley said: “We definitely deserved something from that game but that is the way it has been going for us lately.

“I thought that apart from one little spell at the start of the second half, when they scored twice, we controlled the game.

“Their keeper has had a tremendous game and the two or three that did get past him were cleared off the line.

“It is disappointing to lose but I cannot fault the commitment or the attitude of my players after this game because they gave everything.”

Farsley took the lead following a break from midfield in the 18th minute. The ball was worked through to Adam Priestley and his pace and tenacity took him past two defenders and into the area before he clipped a shot past the advancing keeper.

Etherington had not been well before the game and succumbed to illness. Jackson was a natural replacement, however before he had even settled into the back four Lancaster levelled when Gavin Clark’s through ball into the path of Danny Green was swept home by the striker.

Jackson damaged his ankle ligaments minutes later and Kevin Sanasy came on from the bench.

That led to a more extensive re-shuffle as Matt Dempsey moved to centre back from right back, with Dave Briggs dropping back, while Sanasy took up a midfield position.

Parsley had the interval to ensure everyone knew just who was doing what job but they looked lost as they were caught by two early second-half goals.

Green side-footed in from inside the six-yard box after the home defence had not defended a set-piece on their right flank and a corner from the same side soon after saw Lancaster open a two-goal lead. An in-swinging corner from Jake Simpson appeared to go straight in but Danny Gregson was credited with a touch at the near post.

Wills had picked up his first booking between the strikes for a blatant body check on Brice Tiani and he could have no complaints when he was guilty of a late challenge inside the Farsley half that saw him red-carded.

The home side dominated the ten men but pushed so hard that sometimes gaps were left at the back.

Priestley was crudely bundled over in the area in the 73rd minute and got up to strike the spot-kick himself but Lancaster keeper Danny McDonald made a superb save. He dived to parry the ball and when it dropped there was a scramble before a second goal attempt went wide.

More yellow cards followed for the visitors as they tried to slow things down, break up play and generally hang on. They managed to hold the marauding Farsley at bay until the fifth minute of stoppage time, when Tiani forced the ball home following a corner, but as the teams lined up for the restart the referee sounded the final whistle.