Evo-Stik League Division One North: Scarborough Athletic 1 Farsley Celtic 4

FARSLEY Celtic put distance between themselves and fifth-placed Scarborough Athletic with a handsome away victory as both sides ended this promotion battle with ten men.

The Celts are still challenging for the title and remain nine points behind leaders Lancaster City with three games in hand.

The Dolly Blues also banked a maximum last night, winning 3-1 at home to struggling Radcliffe Borough.

Farsley were 3-1 up at the Seadogs’ rented home in Bridlington before they were reduced to ten men when Richard Marshall picked up a second yellow card.

The numerical disparity lasted just six minutes, however, as Borough’s former Bradford Park Avenue and Liversedge striker Benny Igiehon was also booked for a second time.

There were familiar faces on both sides as Borough old boys Peter Davidson and Lamin Colley were in the Farsley squad, the latter as an unused substitute after his recent signing.

Former Farsley keeper Tom Morgan was in goal for the Seadogs and he was beaten in the 12th minute by Davidson.

Jordan Deacey had provided the cross for Davidson’s side-foot finish, and five minutes later Deacey claimed another assist as his ball back into the area, after a corner was only half-cleared, was converted by James Walshaw with a neat shot on the turn.

The home side hit back midway through the first half when the Celts’ defence appeared to open up for Cameron Murray to race through and score with a shot from just outside the area.

Deacey almost engineered a third as his pass released Marshall but his shot struck a post.

Marshall and Igiehon then found themselves in the referee’s notebook either side of the half-hour mark.

Celts skipper Aaron Hardy was denied by the woodwork soon after the interval, but the visitors restored their two-goal cushion when Paul Walker coolly slotted past Morgan midway through the half.

Farsley sealed their win with a fourth in stoppage time as Walshaw bagged his brace, firing home after substitute Chris Atkinson’s through ball found him in the area.

Two of the other local semi-pro sides were denied action last night due to waterlogged pitches following the heavy overnight rain on Monday into the early hours of Tuesday.

Thackley and Liversedge both had home fixtures in the top tier of the Toolstation Northern Counties East League postponed after pitch inspections.

The fourth-placed Dennyboys were due to host mid-table Hemsworth Miners' Welfare, while Sedge should have welcomed AFC Mansfield.