FARSLEY Celtic suffered a heavy 4-1 home defeat to a tough, no-nonsense Stourbridge side after an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance.

Adam Lakeland’s men dropped to fifth because of the loss but remain inside the Evo-Stik League Premier Division play-off places.

It promised to be a good afternoon as the Celts took the lead from the penalty spot just five minutes in as Ryan Watson sent keeper Matt Gould the wrong way after Nathan Turner had been brought down.

But it was not long before Stourbridge showed the strength and commitment that had knocked Bradford Park Avenue out of the FA Trophy earlier in the season.

The hosts' lead lasted all of six minutes before Luke Benbow pounced to equalise as he converted Nicu Carnat’s ball at the near post.

In a more entertaining second period, the visitors grabbed the lead in contentious circumstances as a soft free-kick was earned by Kaiman Anderson, who appeared to be offside.

The Glassboys’ centre-back Stuart Pierpoint launched the ball into the area, it was flicked on and fellow defender Paul McCone chipped over Celts keeper Graeme McKibbon on the volley.

Just three minutes later McKibbon had a moment that he would wish to forget as he looked to be right behind a low shot from Benbow that lacked power but the ball squirmed beneath the keeper.

Lakeland made positive changes with a double substitution but it was to no avail as Stourbridge defended well and ran the clock down at every opportunity.

The visitors added a fourth goal in stoppage time when substitute Josh Cooke found the bottom corner of McKibbon’s net with a low shot from the edge of the area.

Disappointed Farsley manager Lakeland said: “I don’t know if you can score too early but that has happened to us before in home games.

“Their first goal came from an error in midfield and their second was from a free-kick that our lads are adamant the first touch from their man was when he was offside.

“The third is from a mistake by Graeme as he elects to throw the ball out to a defender under pressure and they win it back. Their shot then goes through Graeme so there is a lot we could have done differently.

“We’re looking to finish in the play-offs and a defeat at this stage doesn’t change that at all. Nothing went for us today and we deserved to be beaten but there are enough games left for us to put things right.”

Stourbridge manager Gary Hackett said: “It was nice to end a losing run because I thought the performances in our last few games have been quite good. We had been unfortunate conceding late goals.

"But it’s a very good win for us against a side in the top four and it shows our potential.”