Farsley Celtic 2 Kettering Town 1

Farsley maintained their momentum in Conference North ahead of tomorrow night's FA Cup first-round replay at MK Dons with a superb victory over title challengers Kettering Town.

The Celts proved they have not been sidetracked by their forthcoming date at the National Hockey Stadium by gathering their second maximum since drawing the initial meeting with the Dons.

Last midweek they won 2-0 at Stalybridge and this time they even had to come from behind to take all three points.

The win leaves Farsley ninth in the table but just five points behind joint leaders Hinckley United, who suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Stalybridge.

The Celts defence dropped their guard in the fourth minute when a cross from open play was flighted into their area and Brett Solkhon headed in. This acted as a wake-up call and snapped the home side into action.

James Knowles almost levelled matters instantly but his fizzing shot drifted just wide of the target.

The Celts got back into the game midway through the first half when Andy Watson drove in from the edge of the six-yard box after a threaded pass by Damian Reeves.

A trademark pile-driver from Simeon Bambrook was well saved by the Town keeper but they maintained an interest in the game and home keeper Paul Cuss had to fingertip a testing cross over his own bar before half-time.

The second period belonged in the main to Farsley. Craig Midgley shot just wide of the post before Reeves netted what proved to be the winner after making space for himself.

Midgley almost put the gloss on the victory with a third goal but his late effort cannoned back off the bar.

Town were never quite out of the hunt and although Solkhon had the ball in the net minutes after Farsley's second, the strike was ruled out for offside.

Delighted Celts boss Lee Sinnott said: "It was a hard-fought win, Kettering started very lively but I thought we performed well in the second half.

"It was a very good win. I said to the players before the game that we couldn't get away from the schedule of games that were stacked up for us and Kettering Town were up there at the top end.

"We gave away what I considered to be a very cheap goal but that is going to happen in a season. The response from the players was great, really first class. They dug deep and forced themselves back into the game.

"If there had been any lack of concentration, given what our next game will be, it would have been found out. Kettering would have spoken about that and used it to their advantage.

"It wasn't there and our players were fully focused on the task in hand. They have a belief about them. If I could sum it up in one word it would be character'. They show a lot of character and now we can look forward to tomorrow."

Celts chairman Andy Firbank added: "We have made the travel arrangements and the team bus will be leaving for Milton Keynes at 9am. We have some hotel rooms booked so that the players can have a decent rest to prepare themselves for the game.

"MK Dons had us watched on Saturday and so did Blackpool (they play the winners in the second round). Let's hope they didn't waste their time and they will be coming back to Throstle Nest very soon."