FARSLEY CELTIC 1

HARROGATE TOWN 1

Celtic laid their home hoodoo to rest with their best performance of the season at Throstle Nest to earn a UniBond League Cup Group Three draw with local rivals Town.

Celtic may be higher in the division One table than their near neighbours but the spotlight was on them after they had lost their last six home matches.

They responded with a gritty display against a side who remain unbeaten in this competition.

Town created the better chances in a goalless first half and took the lead from the spot ten minutes after the break, but although Celtic had been out-thought they were never out-battled and that pleased manager Martin Haresign.

''We did well, much better than at home for a long while,'' he conceded.

' ' ''That is more like it. I said to the players after the game that I wouldn't have been too upset if we had lost 1-0.

''No one likes to lose but if we play like that every time we will win more than we'll lose. The kind of spirit we showed against Harrogate has been missing from our side for too long.''

Before the match he urged his players to gain the victory which, after a 1-0 win at Premier Division Frickley Athletic in the last group match, he thought would see them qualify from the five-team group they occupy with rivals Bradford Park Avenue.

That win proved elusive but his side are still on course to reach the quarter-final stages of one of the three internal UniBond League knockouts after Saturday's encouraging performance.

''I thought a draw was a fair result,'' admitted the boss. ''They had the first half but we caused them a lot of problems in the second and deserved to get it back to 1-1.

"They had a few chances to make it 2-0 but nothing really clear.

''Once we equalised I felt as though we were never going to lose and Wes Freeman could have won it for us twice. But overall it was a tough game and they will be happy enough with a draw.''

Celtic were under-strength with striker Robbie Whellans and skipper Paul Stevenson both out, but Freeman came in to partner Ian Blackstone up front and assistant manager Steve Learoyd filled in as centre back and captain.

Celtic were first to show when an early Phil Turner free kick was well saved by visiting keeper Chris Hill, but Town were soon into their stride.

Andy Shelton, Craig Elliott twice, once with an acrobatic overhead kick, and Iain Dunn all went close to opening the scoring.

It was former Huddersfield Town forward Dunn who finally put the visitors into the lead ten minutes into the second half from the penalty spot. Shelton skipped past Lee Connor - one of six ex-Harrogate players in Celtic's squad - only to be brought down by home keeper Liam Sutcliffe. He was booked for his indiscretion but almost saved Dunn's effort from the spot.

Celtic levelled in the 83rd minute when Town skipper Scott Bairstow rose to beat Freeman to a chipped pass from substitute Eamonn Elliott and the ball looped over Hill.