FARSLEY Celtic are back at the summit of the Evo-Stik League Premier Division after a hard fought 2-1 away win at Hyde United.

The Tigers were looking to break through the 50-point mark and begin a late run to get into the play-off places but the Celts’ determination saw them through yet again.

Farsley took the lead just after the half hour mark with the only goal of the first half when Nathan Cartman found space at the near post and headed Will Hayhurst’s cross from the left past Hyde keeper Peter Crook.

The home side almost equalised after the break through Adam O’Reilly but the Irish midfielder, on loan from Preston North End, saw his header cleared off the line by Celts centre-back Adam Clayton.

Crook made a great save to prevent Cartman bagging a brace and a superb reaction save from a close range effort by Jimmy Spencer. Spencer was looking to restore Farsley’s lead after the home side had equalised in the 63rd minute.

Deane Smalley had his back to goal when he received a ball into the area but his first touch was superb and his second was magnificent as he lashed a shot into the top corner, giving Celts keeper Kyle Trenerry no chance.

Cartman was denied his brace but he did grab the assist for the winning goal six minutes from time, helping the ball into the danger zone for Clayton to fire into the bottom corner.

Hyde ended the game with ten men after Ross Daly was sent off in the 88th minute. The former Farsley and Bradford (Park Avenue) midfielder picked up a second yellow card – just 16 minutes after his first booking.

Celts boss Adam Lakeland was delighted with the win but wasn’t aware that it had taken his side top again.

He said: “I thought we played quite well in the first half and had good control and got ourselves in front.

“We always knew that in the second half they would come out and ask questions of us in that first 15 minutes. In all fairness they started the second half much better than us.

“We changed shape when it went 1-1. It was a very good goal but we changed shape, got a little more control back, found another gear and went on to get the winner.

“I didn’t even know that Warrington had lost but it’s irrelevant really. There are 24 points to play for so there’s a long way to go and there will be twists and turns.”

While the Celts were earning three points, Warrington Town – who began the day a point ahead – were losing 3-2 at home to Stafford Rangers.

Brighouse Town mounted a strong comeback in their Division One East game to prevent a home defeat, but the 3-3 draw against mid-table Stamford saw Vill Powell’s men drop down a place to third.

Stamford led 1-0 at the interval after Oliver Brown-Hill’s 40th minute strike, and he bagged a brace when he converted a penalty five minutes into the second half.

Town responded with a strike from Aaron Martin but Daniels got their two-goal advantage back, with Teddy Bloor scoring their third midway through the second half.

Martin emulated Brown-Hill by netting a spot-kick to record his double but Town still trailed, right until Zeph Thomas’ stoppage time equaliser.