Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Saturday 17 February 2018

A goal early in the second half sent Rangers to defeat at promotion hopefuls Farsley Celtic. The home side had the better of the opening half although Rangers were not without chances of their own, but they were too few and lacking potency.

Farsley were first to show when Nathan Cartman hit the post from 20 yards after spotting Adam Whitehouse off his line then Nathan Turner saw his header land on top of the Stafford net.

Luke Parkin was next to try his luck with a shot that flew across the face of the Stafford goal. Rangers’ first sighter was a tame header from Jordaan Brown that as comfortably saved by Graeme McKibbin then Kyle Perry found himself clear but McKibbin kept him out.

It was to be Rangers’ best chance of the game and it was the home side who looked the most threatening as Adam Clayton and Danny Ellis both missed out when well placed. The former looked set to score from Parkin’s centre while Ellis fired over from 10 yards.

At the other end, Joe Thomas curled one wide after an error from William Wells then Izak Reid sent his header high and wide from a Jack Sherratt corner. Shortly before half time, Whitehouse twice came to Stafford’s rescue firstly keeping out Ryan Watson’s volley then saving well from Cartman as the sides went in on level terms.

It was Watson who grabbed what proved to be the winner striking home a free kick from the edge of the D, seven minutes into the second half, the ball taking a wicked deflection off the Stafford wall, leaving Whitehouse rooted to the spot.

Parkin fired wide for Farsley soon after but a disappointing half was largely devoid of chances at either end. Farsley did create a couple in the closing stages as Ben Atkinson fired wide and Whitehouse denied Cartman but Watson’s earlier free kick had done the damage. Rangers have now made three visits to Farsley and are still to score.

Players from both sides clashed after the full time whistle with Farsley’s match winner Watson and Boro’s Levi Reid receiving cautions for their involvement.

Farsley: 1 Graeme McKibbin, 2 William Wells, 3 Lewis Turner, 4 Chris Atkinson, 5 Danny Ellis, 6 Adam Clayton, 7 Ryan Watson, 8 Nathan Turner, 9 Paul Walker (12 Cameron Murray 88m), 10 Nathan Cartman, 11 Luke Parkin (14 Ben Atkinson. Unused subs: 15 Kurt Harris, 16 Mark Bett

Rangers: 1 Adam Whitehouse, 2 Dan Vann, 3 Kieren Westwood (14 Dan Westwood75m), 4 Kieran Morris, 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Josh Craddock, 7 Izak Reid, 8 Jack Sherratt (12 Levi Reid 79m), 9 Kyle Perry, 10 Massiah McDonald, 11 Joe Thomas. Unused subs: 15 Sam Griffiths, 16 Richard Platt, 17 Brad Caswell

Cautions: Wells, Watson (Farsley), Morris, I Reid, McDonald, Thomas, L Reid (Boro)

Ref: Lindsey Robinson

Att: 246

Report: Chris Elsley