Evo-Stik League Premier Division: Farsley Celtic 1 Stafford Rangers 0

FARSLEY Celtic banked a maximum to stay with the promotion-chasing pack in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division, but they had to earn their spoils in a tough encounter.

Although it was a narrow victory, it could have been by a much bigger margin, but the woodwork and Rangers’ keeper Adam Whitehouse kept the score down to ensure a tense afternoon at Throstle Nest.

The home side were denied by a post in the third minute, with Nathan Cartman’s curling shot striking the upright, and Adam Clayton’s 18th-minute glancing header also hit the woodwork, while Whitehouse denied Ryan Watson and Cartman with superb saves late in the half.

Rangers had a couple of half-chances, and Graeme McKibbon also had to produce some heroics as Kyle Perry broke through just before the quarter-hour.

The Celts grabbed the all-important goal ten minutes into the second half after a foul on Nathan Turner that brought a yellow card for Joe Thomas.

Watson’s free-kick took a big deflection to leave Whitehouse stranded on his line.

There was a late chance for Ben Atkinson, and Whitehouse denied Cartman in stoppage time as the Celts looked to put the gloss on their win.

The Celts remain sixth but are now outside the play-off places on goal difference only as four clubs from third place down are all locked on 54 points.

In Division One North, Brighouse Town banked a point from a home draw as they shared six goals with fourth-placed Bamber Bridge.

It was a good result against the Preston-based high fliers, yet it was still a frustrating afternoon for Vill Powell’s Town as they let a two-goal lead slip with just 20 minutes remaining, and they dropped one place to 18th.

Waide Fairhurst had fired the home side into an eighth-minute lead, and they held that slender advantage until 11 minutes into the second half.

Kieran Charnock levelled for the visitors but Aaron Martin headed Town back in front minutes later.

Twenty minutes from time, Town were awarded a penalty and, although Brig keeper Lloyd Rigby got a hand to Dan Grimshaw’s spot-kick, he could only parry it onto the underside of his crossbar as the ball went in.

Town’s 3-1 lead lasted just six minutes, however, as Brig substitute Gary Pett cut the deficit and, just minutes from the end, Regan Linney snatched the equaliser to bring an all-action, entertaining encounter to a close.

Powell’s men are four points clear of the drop zone and five points off mid-table respectability.