Farsley Celtic 4 Ossett Town 2

FARSLEY Celtic clinched promotion to the Evo-Stik Premier Division thanks to an extra time victory over neighbours Ossett Town in the Division One North play-off final.

The Celts had finished runners-up in the league – only one point behind title winners Lancaster City but 11 points above third placed Scarborough Athletic and Ossett Town.

Given the gap between Farsley and their play-off rivals, promotion was arguably more than deserved but joint-manager Neil Parsley feared the worst at one stage in the game.

"When they went 2-1 up, with ten minutes to go, I thought we had given ourselves too much to do," he said. "But fair play to Ryan Watson and James Walshaw for coming up with two very good goals in extra-time.

"It had been a very cagey game in the first half – which wasn’t a surprise as there was so much riding on it," he added. "But I thought that it opened up in the second half and, in extra time, there were some very tired bodies out there. Both our lads and the Ossett boys were looking very weary.

"Ossett are a good side, a big side, physical, well-organised and they have spirit, character, passion and belief – all of the things they talked about in the build-up to the game.

"But me and Deace (joint manager John Deacey) thought that, if we matched their fight and determination for an hour, we would have the players that could win it for us."

Farsley took the lead early in the second half when centre-back Adam Clayton converted Lewis Nightingale’s corner kick.

The Celts had chances to double their lead before Ossett levelled. Former Bradford Park Avenue striker Danny Frost touched the ball past Graeme McKibbon who came off his line after Aiden Savory had tried to shield a through ball to the goalkeeper.

With the game on a knife edge, and 18 minutes remaining, play had to be stopped when referee Andrew Sykes pulled up with a calf injury and had to be replaced by fourth official Michael Barlow .

Ossett then took the lead when Frost flicked on a through ball and McKibbon could not stop it looping into the net.

Deep in added time, Richard Marshall equalised for Farsley after Walshaw's effort came back off a post.

The first half of extra-time was goalless but Celts' substitute Watson then scored from distance to give his side a 3-2 lead.

The final goal, scored by James Walshaw, was just as stunning. The striker hit an angled drive across goalkeeper Leigh Overton before celebrating on his knees in front of the main stand.

Parsley said: "It was our 156th goal of the season. We got 100 in the league alone so we know that we can score.

"We might have to tighten up at the back but that’s for another day. Let’s just enjoy the promotion and the presentation night before we start to look towards next season."