Evo-Stik League Premier Division: Lancaster City 1 Farsley Celtic 1

FARSLEY Celtic maintained the six-point gap between themselves and long-term rivals Lancaster City with a draw at Giant Axe, but it could have been so much better for the visitors.

The Celts found Dolly Blues’ keeper Josh Powell in fine form as they created the better chances in a close game.

The clubs that both gained promotion into the Evo-Stik Premier Division last term - Lancaster as champions and runners-up Farsley via the play- offs - have been involved in some epic battles over recent seasons.

The Celts were on the front foot, despite being away from home, and should have broken the deadlock following a good move in the 34th minute.

Luke Porritt and Luke Parkin were involved before the latter crossed for Paul Walker, but he scooped his shot over from inside the area.

A Parkin corner minutes later was cleared only as far as Porritt, but his shot from distance flew just wide.

The Dolly Blues were a goal up soon after as their skipper Richard Mercer went forward for a set-piece and headed home Sam Bailey’s corner.

There was still time for another close call for the visitors as James Walshaw thumped a shot against the bar before the break.

Powell made a good save early in the second half to deny Ben Atkinson, and palmed away a low drive from the same player minutes later.

The rebound bounced up and the Celts players called for a penalty as it appeared to strike a hand but the referee deemed it unintentional.

Farsley eventually got their deserved equaliser when centre back Adam Clayton met Parkin’s 71st-minute corner with a thumping header.

As the Celts went in search of a winner, Powell dived at Walshaw’s feet to snuff out any danger, and also saved a shot from Parkin.

Atkinson turned a Walker cross just over before Lancaster had the ball in the net for a second time, an offside flag curtailing any celebrations as Oliver Wood headed Paul Dugdale’s 85th-minute free kick past Celts keeper Graeme McKibbon.

Still the visitors pressed, and Powell was forced into two more superb saves, keeping out a low drive from Ryan Watson, and Isaac Baldwin’s well-struck free-kick in the penultimate minute.

Brighouse Town remain 17th in Division One North after a home defeat to mid-table Kendal Town.

Once again it was a narrow loss by a single goal for luckless Brighouse as they struggle to get into this campaign.

They started brightly and took an early lead when Rob Worrell found the top corner with a third-minute free-kick.

However, the Mintcakes took a lead into the break after Rob Bowman netted an 18th-minute penalty kick, and Paul Dowson added to that after good work from Connor Gaul just after the half-hour.

Bowman stretched the visitors’ lead eight minutes into the second half before Brighouse substitute Gabriel Johnson pegged them back just into time added on but Kendal held out for a maximum that lifted them up to 11th.