Guiseley 2

Farsley Celtic 2

The honours were shared in a pulsating derby clash at Nethermoor as the two local UniBond Premier Division sides kept their interests alive in the play-offs for the Conference North.

A bumper crowd of 524 watched the Bank Holiday Monday clash and they could not fail to be enthralled. The visitors twice took the lead only to be pegged back on both occasions.

"It was a tense afternoon, a typical local derby and a game between two good sides," was Guiseley manager Neil Parsley's assessment.

"Young Danny Forrest has had a great chance to cover himself in glory in the last minute but their keeper has made a great save to foil his lob. I think that overall it was a fair result.

"Both sides could have won it and I would have been happier with three points but I'm satisfied with one because my boys gave it a good shot. It was an horrendous mistake from Sam Denton for their second goal but on the whole it was a good display"

His opposite number was equally ready to accept the outcome.

"A typical derby. They were up for it and it was a tough game. Nothing other than we would expect," said Celts boss Lee Sinnott.

"The pitch was difficult to play on, the referee made some strange decisions throughout and three of the four goals were down to errors. Those are the ingredients that make games tight and special."

The Celts took the lead in the third minute following a break down the right-hand side from James McDaid. His chip infield was volleyed into Curtis Bernard's path by Andy Shields and the big striker tucked it away with a fine first-time shot.

Guiseley hit back in the 12th minute with an emphatic finish. Mark Stuart floated a cross to the far side of the area and, as the Celts defence struggled to clear, David Cooke reacted first to fire in a rising drive from ten yards.

There were some fine flowing moves that produced goal attempts from both sides but it was eight minutes into the second half before the net was bulging again. It was somewhat against the run of play but Farsley re-took the lead when Mark Bett was allowed to run through the centre and lash in a shot.

Once again the visitors' lead did not last long. Nine minutes later parity was restored after a goalmouth scramble. Simon Parke's header was parried by Sutcliffe but Jeremy Illingworth pounced.