Farsley AFC’s first campaign in the Evo-Stik lower tier was a productive one but they fell just short of gaining a second successive promotion since reforming two seasons ago.

Owner John Palmer, whose rescue package came so close to saving Farsley Celtic, had persuaded Neil Parsley to take charge of the new club and the manager recruited many of the players he had with him at Throstle Nest in the Confer-ence North.

With their experience, they won the Northern Counties East League Premier Division in their inaugural season and finished in the play-offs in Evo-Stik North last month.

They claimed a creditable fourth place but had to travel to Witton Albion in the play-off semi-final. Witton were just one place higher in the table but had gathered nine more points in the regular season, and they ran out 3-0 winners.

It was an abrupt ending to the campaign for Farsley, who had reached the semi-finals of the West Riding County Cup but were narrowly beaten by holders Guiseley, who had home advantage in that last-four meeting.

That defeat, in the last game of February, was Farsley’s final loss of the normal season.

Parsley led his men to nine victories and two draws in the last 11 league games, which booked them a place in the end-of-season extras.

Farsley were excluded from the FA Cup due to the administration and they failed to collect any prize money from the FA Trophy as they lost a first qualifying-round replay to league rivals Curzon Ashton.

Curzon were one of just three clubs to finish above Farsley in the table but the runners-up will be crossing swords with Parsley’s men again next term after losing a home play-off final 3-0 against Witton.