Farsley Celtic 2, Stocksbridge PS 0: Farsley Celtic went into their ten-day break with confidence intact and hankering for the next fixture after a deserved if laboured victory over Stocksbridge Park Steels.
The win meant the Celts had earned a maximum six points from their last two league games and stretched their unbeaten run to four in total.
A good draw at promotion chasing Witton Albion arrested their slump and they have since booked themselves a place in the West Riding County Cup final.
"It was a hard win because we took a long time to get the second goal," said Celts boss Martin Haresign, whose double substitution late in the day proved to be inspired.
"I thought we were in control of the game but we missed chances and at 1-0 it's never safe. When it got to 70 minutes or so it was a bit tense so we decided to send Ian Blackstone on.
"I said Blackie would get us another goal and he did, but he left it late just to make us sweat a bit more.
"Matt Smithard scored an excellent free-kick but I was more pleased we had kept a clean sheet. The young keeper we had to bring in didn't have much to do but what he did he did well.
"I thought he was excellent and deserved not to concede. We don't know the position with keepers at the moment, our next game isn't until a week tomorrow so we will know more by then, but the one thing that is certain is that Jack Robinson is there."
Robinson, a 17-year-old released by Leeds United because of his average height, stepped into the breach after Phil Straker was recalled from his loan by Sunderland.
He made a save in the 10th minute, when Steels right back James Whitehead followed up to direct a shot on target after the keeper had fisted a cross to the edge of the area, and from then on grew in stature.
The lively Amjad Iqbal was unfortunate not to be the one that broke the deadlock and reward Celtic's endeavour. He and Stephen Ball presented the biggest threat to the visitors goal.
They had to wait until two minutes into first half stoppage time to take the lead. Smithard finding the top corner with his direct 25 yard effort.
In the second period it was Ben Jones who tormented the Steels defence but, like Iqbal, his best efforts were not destined to ruffle the net. Although he did play a part in Blackstone's 87th minute strike.
His through ball gave the substitute something to chase and Blackstone's pace took him through to the edge of the area. The visitor's keeper got something on the ball as it went through him, which slowed it's progress towards the line, but it did nestle in the net.
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