Evo-Stik League Premier Division: Farsley Celtic 3 Marine 0

FARSLEY Celtic cemented their place in the play-offs of the Evo-Stik League Premier Division with a hard-earned but ultimately comfortable home victory on the final day of the regular season.

The Celts face a difficult game at Ashton United on Tuesday after the Tameside club pipped Warrington Town to the runners-up berth on a dramatic last day.

Ashton won 2-1 at Workington courtesy of a last-minute goal, while Warrington lost by the same scoreline at Stourbridge after leading 1-0.

There was no great drama at Throstle Nest, which was just as well as Shaw Lane - the only club that could have displaced the Celts - beat Matlock at home thanks to two goals in the last five minutes.

While the sharp intakes of breath, calculations and re-calculations were hurriedly going on at all the other grounds, the Nest was remarkably calm.

Visitors Marine could have taken a tenth-minute lead.

Josh Amis was in acres of space but saw his shot superbly saved by Kyle Trenerry, but Farsley broke the deadlock a minute later and never looked back.

Nathan Cartman gave the Celts the lead when he was picked out inside the area, controlling the ball well with his back to goal before netting a shot on the turn.

Trennery made another top-class save midway through the half, and Farsley went into the break two goals up after Chris Atkinson’s deep cross on the stroke of half-time was steered home by Luke Parkin.

Marine boss Tommy Lawton made a triple substitution during the break which saw Amis, who had been the visitors’ most threatening attacker, and his strike partner Daniel Mitchley both making way.

But the Celts dealt with anything that Marine could muster and added to their lead 12 minutes from time.

It was another excellent move by Farsley, with Ben Atkinson and Lewis Turner combining before the latter crossed to the far post and Isaac Baldwin converted with a firm header.

Farsley manager Adam Lakeland was pleased with the result and the performance, saying: “I’m delighted and obviously to make it into the play-offs underlines just how hard we’ve worked.

“But I thought there were a lot of nerves, especially early on. There was a strange atmosphere - a bit like a pre-season friendly and that felt odd. I think that transferred itself onto the pitch and the players got a bit twitchy.

“We got an goal early, which should have settled us, but Kyle (Trennery) has made two good saves - one at 0-0 and one at 1-0 - so we didn’t have it all our own way but once we scored the second I thought we controlled the game.

“To be fair to Marine, they had played on Wednesday and Thursday so we knew that they would tire the longer the game went on.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday, Lakeland added: “Whether it had been Warrington or Ashton it was always going to be a very tough away game but our away form has been very good - in fact I think it’s the best in the league.

“We have lost one game out of 23 away in all competitions this season. We also have everybody fit and available, apart from Ryan Watson who is out for the season, so we can go into the play-offs in a very positive frame of mind.”