Nathan Cartman scores on latest Farsley Celtic debut to help them back into play-off zone

The Celts had slipped to sixth after back-to-back 3-3 draws but goals in each half at Marston Road lifted them into the top five and within two points of Shaw Lane and Grantham Town, the two clubs immediately above them

Farsley completed the signing of Nathan Cartman from Darlington in time for him to play, with James Walshaw having left to join Scarborough Athletic late in the week.

Having already enjoyed one loan spell at Throstle Nest this season, he marked his second Celts debut with a goal and the former Brighouse Town striker is now back on a permanent basis.

Celts keeper Kyle Trenerry had to be alert during the first period, while Rangers defender Jordan Brown almost scored an own goal and Brad Carswell saved well from Cartman's stoppage-time effort. But the sides were only separated at the interval by Cartman's neat tenth-minute finish.

The second half was also closely contested, with Farsley's best chances seeing Chris Atkinson head a Nathan Turner cross against a post while a Danny Ellis header was cleared off the line following a Ryan Watson corner.

The visitors secured their win 11 minutes from time through another set-piece, with Adam Priestley heading home from a free-kick.

BRIGHOUSE had hoped to ease their relegation worries in Division One North but their luck was out as they lost 3-0 at home to fellow strugglers Atherton Collieries.

Town could have taken the lead through Rhys Jenkinson's lob over the keeper but the ball was headed over the bar by a covering defender.

The hosts found themselves two down at the break, Chris Lynch having headed the opener just before the half-hour mark from a corner before Ben Hardcastle netted a low shot eight minutes before the interval.

Ishmael Dawson missed a glorious opportunity to claw a goal back early in the second half, while his side were denied by the woodwork late on, but Hardcastle had already set up Danny Lambert to add Atherton's third by then.