Nantwich Town 1 Farsley Celtic 1

FARSLEY Celtic are back in the play-off places in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division after grinding out a draw at Nantwich Town and they will take that momentum into tomorrow's home game against Whitby Town.

Celts boss Adam Lakeland knows that a win against struggling Whitby at Throstle Nest would see his side consolidate the play-off place that they won back but he will also be aware the some of their rivals were frustrated by postponements.

Farsley should have taken an early lead at Weaver Street after being awarded a sixth-minute penalty. Lewis Turner had been brought down in the area but Nathan Cartman’s spot kick was well saved by Dabbers’ keeper Myles Boney.

It was a costly miss as the Cheshire club snatched the lead three minutes later. Celts defender Will Wells, on loan from Vanarama National League near neighbours Guiseley, was robbed on the edge of the area and Harry Clayton stroked the ball past visiting keeper Graeme McKibbon.

The home side forced a glut of chances in the first half and Lewis Turner had to clear off the line after a scramble in the Celts’ area.

Soon after that concerted attack, Nantwich skipper Clayton MacDonald fired a pile-driver shot just wide. Later in the first half the Dabbers’ Troy Bourne began a counter attack that led to Clayton rounding McKibbon only to see his shot find the outside of the side netting.

While the first half may have belonged to the home side, Farsley made a game of it after the break. Lakeland made a change during the interval as he introduced Isaac Baldwin, replacing Wells.

The Celts began the second half well with Chris Atkinson seeing a shot blocked for a corner, the visitors had another good chance following a free kick just before the hour but the Dabbers’ defence scrambled the ball away.

Lakeland was pro-active and his third and final substitution saw Ben Atkinson coming on for Luke Parkin. It was Atkinson who drilled in the last-gasp equaliser in the last minute of the match.

Farsley climbed back up to fifth, just inside the play-off places, but three games in the division were postponed. Two of the clubs thwarted by the weather were second-placed Warrington Town and Shaw Lane, who dropped from fifth but have games in hand on Farsley.

Farsley’s visitors Whitby will be fresh as they head to Throstle Nest as they were due to host Warrington on Saturday.