For the second consecutive match Farsley finished the game with ten men but, unlike Saturday's backs-to-the-wall draw, they managed to recover from Carl Serrant's dismissal to register a maximum.

Former Newcastle United defender Serrant's red card for a professional foul resulted in a penalty converted by Simon Barrowclough to bring Matlock level at 1-1.

Against ten men with 35 minutes to play, the visitors must have fancied their chances. But the Celts' inbuilt, steely determination came straight to the fore as they regained the lead within

minutes and closed the game out with little trouble.

Farsley had opened the

scoring just before half-time when Damian Reeves' shot was parried by the Derbyshire club's keeper, only for Mark Bett to ram in the rebound.

It was Reeves who gave the home side a 2-1 lead, minutes after Serrant's exit, with a chip from outside the area. The points were made safe 12 minutes from time when a quick counter-attack saw Kevin Sanasy burst forward. He fed Roy Stamer and the mercurial winger finished well.

Celts boss Lee Sinnott said: "It was a good result. At times we played very well and looked assured. That takes us through the 50-point barrier, which is always a landmark in a season."

Elsewhere, Thackley's hopes of making it ten back-to-back victories in the Northern Counties East Premier Division, at home to Sheffield, as well as Liversedge's League Cup quarter-final against Parkgate fell foul of the weather.

Both games were called off in mid-afternoon due to waterlogged pitches following sleet showers throughout the early part of the day.