Farsley Celtic 1, Radcliffe Borough 1: The Celts will take a lot from this performance against one of the hotly tipped promotion candidates from the UniBond Division One but they could have earned so much more from their clash with Radcliffe Borough.

They contained the threat the Mancunians offered, especially in the first half when they could not string five passes together, and took the lead early in the second period.

From that point on they should have grabbed a much-needed maximum but their failure to close out the game cost them. It was an observation that was not lost on Celts boss Martin Haresign.

"They had a lot of possession in the first half but they didn't cause us too many problems and when we got in front I thought we should have go on to win," he said.

That would have given them two victories in the week, following Tuesday's storming 6-1 win at Seaham Red Star in the FA Cup replay, and given them their first sight of some consistent form.

"Radcliffe are a good side, loads of experience at this level, and proved to some of our lads that the UniBond is a tough league. There is only one team unbeaten in this division, Alfreton Town, and they have drawn a few," continued Haresign.

"All the teams are taking points off each other so it's going to be tight again this season. I was talking to their people after the game and they said the same - they had hoped to get off to a better start themselves but it's very even so far.

"I'm not too disappointed with the result but I thought we deserved a win. They threw two subs on and pushed a big centre back up front after we scored but they still struggled to create much.

"All our lads were adamant that their goal was offside but we can't complain about that because it happens. Late in the game there was only one side who looked like winning it and that was us.

"Even in the four minutes of stoppage time we had two very good chances, their keeper has made some lucky saves in the last 15 to 20 minutes but they have hung on and you have to give them credit for that." Given the amount of goals Celtic have shipped in over the past month Haresign must have been pleased by the fact that they have conceded just once in each of their last two games.

Tuesday's was nothing other than an early scare, Red Star scored first in Celtic's 6-1 midweek rout, but Radcliffe's cost Farsley two points.

Just 11 minutes after the interval Danny Spence cut through the visitor's defence and bent a low shot past Boro keeper Danny Hurst. The visitors made immediate substitutions and were behind for just seven minutes.

Celts keeper Liam Sutcliffe parried two efforts before the loose ball was threaded to David Bean, looking suspiciously offside, and he crashed home the equaliser from the corner of the six yard box.