Farsley 3, Radcliffe Borough 0

FARSLEY are back on the brink of the Division One North play-off zone after a comfortable Evo-Stik League victory over struggling Radcliffe Borough at a windswept Throstle Nest.

The almost gale-force wind pelted the players and spectators with hailstones in sporadic showers and brought a chill factor on an already bitterly cold afternoon. It prevented free-flowing football so had a negative affect on the game.

The home side were playing against the elements in the first half but got to grips with it better than their opponents.

Farsley created the first real chance on the quarter-hour mark when Lewis Nightingale’s shot from the corner of the area was deflected and bounced up at the back post for Adam Priestley but his close-range header was palmed out for a corner.

Nightingale delivered the flag-kick and when the Boro defence failed to clear the danger, Andy Welsh got a shot in but visiting keeper Chris Cheetham got his body in the way.

Another Nightingale corner was headed over by James Riley but Farsley broke the deadlock just before the half-hour point. A brisk attack saw Welsh marauding down the left flank and a good cross was met by a bullet header by Priestley.

With the wind behind them, Boro finshed the first half strongly and a clearance from home keeper Tom Taylor actually went back over his own head for a corner.

Taylor made an easy save to deny Chris Mason and one from the top drawer to prevent Bevan Burey’s effort going into the top corner to ensure the hosts reached the break with their slender lead intact.

Ten minutes into the second half, Mikey Aspin effected an amazing goalline clearance. Boro substitute Ryan Hibbert and Taylor went up in an aerial challenge and although it was not a clean header from the attacker, the ball was goalbound until Aspin hooked it clear.

From almost being 1-1 it went 2-0 in no time at all, with Farsley doubling their advantage just after the hour mark. The second wave of attack after a corner was only half-cleared and was spread wide to Welsh, whose deep, curling cross was glanced in at the far post by Spencer Harris.

A controversial moment in the 69th minute saw Cheetham handle the ball as he came out of his area and the referee had problems getting the defensive wall back the required distance.

But Farsley wrapped the game up two minutes later when the Welsh-Harris combination produced the home side’s third goal.

Farsley boss Neil Parsley said: “I thought we did well and it was nice to keep a clean sheet.

"But I felt sorry for the spectators when it’s that bad and reiterate my claim that when the wind is excessive, it should be a consideration for postponing a game.”