Skelmersdale 1

Farsley Celtic 2

Farsley reached the first round of the FA Trophy with a solid if uninspiring display at Skelmersdale to record a routine win.

It was not an easy tie for the Celts to go into after their defeat in the FA Cup at MK Dons just four days earlier. This tie had the roles reversed, with Farsley the big club facing a side from two divisions lower.

The Lancashire outfit used their home advantage to good effect in the first half and played their part in an entertaining tie.

Celts goalkeeper Paul Cuss made a couple of good saves, while United hit the post as well.

The visitors were also denied by the woodwork on one occasion and had the home defence under pressure before taking the lead on the half-hour mark with the only goal of the first period.

Midfielder Simeon Bambrook burst into the area through the inside-left channel, only for his run to be illegally brought to a halt. The resulting penalty was drilled home by Craig Midgley, with the home keeper not even moving.

Farsley sealed the tie early in the second period and that also came from a set-piece as the Conference North outfit used their experience.

Skipper Carl Serrant delivered a free-kick and Ryan Crossley netted with a classic downward header that bounced up over the diving keeper.

Skelmersdale stuck to their task and denied their higher-ranking opponents a clean sheet with a goal that came four minutes into the six that were added for stoppage time. A free-kick was floated in and Steve Rimmer headed home.

The rigours of two meetings with Martin Allen's Coca-Cola League Two battlers had taken a lot out of the Celts.

A combination of tired limbs and niggling injuries after a glut of fixtures also saw them with an unusual line-up.

"We did enough, we are in the draw for the next round and I'm happy with that and delighted for the players," said Farsley manager Lee Sinnott.

"It has been a demanding period for the squad. It was our fifth game in 13 days and that takes its toll. I had three wingers missing in Roy Stamer, Remo Nesa and Andy Watson, who were all injured."

Martin Pemberton was also sidelined, causing changes in the defence. Chris Thackray, the young midfielder who is on the periphery, made a rare start in the central role.

"It was not a normal display from us but sometimes, as a manager, you have to look at the bigger picture," said Sinnott..

"There were aspects of play that worried me in the game but we had different personnel and some of them were playing out of their regular areas.

"However, our last five games in less than a fortnight read won three, drawn two and lost one - and that loss was to a Football League club. We are obviously not as fresh as we could be."

With tonight's scheduled West Riding County Cup tie against Bradford Park Avenue now postponed, it will be a welcome free midweek for Farsley.

Players, the management team and the board will all be relieved - but even that comes at a cost.

"We could be approaching a backlog of fixtures now that the Avenue derby cup game has been put back," said Sinnott.

"The players will appreciate that as a little break from the mental pressure, as well as physical demands, will be welcome.

"But it could have a knock-on affect to our league games. The trip to Horsfall Stadium will be pencilled in for next Monday - unless Avenue and Nuneaton Borough draw in the Trophy, which will throw everything in the air once more."