Farsley Celtic 1-3 Grays Athletic

By James Grayson

Celtic’s relegation back to the Blue-Square North was confirmed after a disappointing defeat at home to Grays.

John Deacey made several changes from his side that lost 4-1 to York. Rory Prendergast and Georges Santos came back into the side with Simeon Bambrook going to left back.

The game had an end of season feel to even though Celtic were still playing for fourth-bottom. The Grays’ strikers were certainly trying things they usually wouldn’t do as on three minutes, Danny Kedwell blazed high and wide from 25 yards.

Grays took the lead on 16 minutes, Kedwell out muscled Amjad Iqbal on the edge of the penalty area. He then squared the ball across goal for Jamie TAYLOR to tap home.

Grays nearly doubled their lead on 31 minutes, Kedwell got ahead from Santos before shooting for goal. Luckily for Celtic, Curtis Aspden made a great save.

Grays’ captain Jamie Stuart handed Celtic the chance to get back into the game on 32 minutes. Stuart handled Prendergast’s shirt in the six yard box and as a result the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Stephen Downes took the kick and smashed the ball home.

On 38 minutes Kedwell was involved again with a Grays chance. Kedwell was 30 yards from goal when with the outside of his foot, shot for goal. Only the crossbar could deny him.

HT 1-1

Chances were few and far between in the second-half up until the 70 th minute. This is when Grays got their second goal in controversial circumstances. Jeff Goulding seemed to push Iqbal over in the box however the referee didn’t blow his whistle. GOULDING turned on the ball before lashing it into the back of the net.

Celtic should have equalised on 76 minutes but the Grays defence were showing their luck. Firstly Damian Reeves had his shot cleared off the line. Reeves then squared the ball across goal for David McNiven to tap home. McNiven’s tap was then cleared off the line before another Reeves’ shot was blasted off the line.

Grays sealed their victory on 79 minutes when Kedwell got a deserved goal. Taylor repaid the compliment from the first half by squaring the ball across the area. KEDWELL took a touch before blasting home from 12 yards.

The season that has brought so many memories drew to a close with the Celtic support giving the players a good send-off. Shirts were thrown into the crowd and players who are unlikely to play again for the club said goodbye.

FT 1-3

Farsley Celtic: Aspden, S McNiven (D McNiven 73), Iqbal, Santos, Bambrook, Downes (Tuck 85), Knowles, Krief, Prendergast (Stamer 85), Torpey, Reeves. Subs not used: Heath, Backhouse.

Grays Athletic: D Knowles, Saunders (Mawer 46), Downer, Stuart, Gross, O'Connor, Taylor (Standing 80), Thurgood, Cogan (Goulding 53), J Taylor, Kedwell. Subs not used: Haines, McCafferty.

Referee: J. Collin (Liverpool).

Attendance: 379.