Fleet arrive late for kick-off but rescue a point with a Stacy Long piledriver…

FARSLEY CELTIC 1-1 EBBSFLEET UNITED

A broken-down coach and subsequent late arrival meant the Fleet kicked off late against Blue Square Premier new boys Farsley Celtic at the Throstle’s Nest this afternoon and, despite falling behind to a 12th-minute penalty, did not crumble in the same way Kidderminster had in a similar situation at Stonebridge Road earlier this month.

Fleet fell behind against the run of play after Sacha Opinel was adjudged, somewhat harshly, to have fouled Gareth Grant and Celtic’s Stephen Downes despatched the penalty with a clinical shot into the bottom corner past Cronin.

With both sides trying their luck from distance on numerous occasions, it was no real surprise that the next goal came from a long-range effort. Opinel redeemed himself for his earlier misdemeanour by laying the ball inside for Stacy Long who skipped past two defenders and unleashead a superb shot from more than 25 yards which sailed into the top corner and Fleet found themselves level.

Shots from Mark DeBolla and Michae Bostwick kept the home side penned in for much of the first half, but the second 45 was a different story as Farsley stepped up a gear and put their visitors under the cosh. Mark Ricketts was brought on for the first time since the season’s opener for Raphael Nade as the Fleet sought to stem the tide. Farsley shaved the post with one effort, while at the other end DeBolla was clearly looking to copy Long’s goal from distance as he came close with two free-kicks and shots before Bostwick picked up his sixth booking of the season for a foul on Grant in the closing minutes.

Neither side could find the breakthough, however, and Fleet left Leeds with an unbeaten run stretching back five games.

TEAM: Cronin, McPhee, Hawkins, McCarthy, Opinel, Moore
(Luke Coleman 87), Bostwick, DeBolla, Long
(Barrett
65), Nade
(Ricketts
56), Hastings. Subs not used: Starkey, French.