Farsley 3, Matlock 0: Farsley Celtic put a difficult season to bed when they strolled to victory in the penultimate match of the campaign to ensure their UniBond status for next term.

Celtic assumed an air of assurance and an attitude of confidence that has long been lacking from their play when they walked out to face Matlock Town. It stayed with them throughout the game, they were confident but never arrogant.

The Throstle Nest faithful will now be able to relax when Kendal Town travel down to West Yorkshire for the final game of the season this Friday.

Kendal were the only team with a mathematical chance of overhauling Celtic and forcing them into the one remaining relegation place. In the end their 1-0 defeat at Ossett Town prevented any fear of the final match being a cliffhanger.

"We ended up missing the relegation places by eight points," said Celts assistant manager John Deacey. "The last game means nothing now. We can take it easy all week and go out there and enjoy it on Friday."

Manager Martin Haresign was just as relieved. "It has been a long time coming but we have more than enough points. One game, just one, left and we can go into it with confidence," said the boss.

"It wasn't easy against Matlock, they are a good side. I thought we deserved the win, though. Our keeper has made a couple of saves but apart from that they haven't given us to much trouble.

"Things will have to improve next season. This is the second time we have been scrapping to avoid relegation in the last week of the season and that is not good enough.

"A lot of things have gone against us this time and we all knew it would be hard but we have to look to get off to a flyer next season so we don't underachieve again."

If Haresign can hold the nucleus of his team together then, on the evidence of this performance, better times beckon for Celtic. His midfield general, 22-year-old Andy Shields, was outstanding.

Striker Michael Midwood and winger Stuart Beech have also been influential, Since they signed Celtic have won four and drawn one of eight games. They were all at the heart of this celebration.

Midwood opened the scoring with a stooping header from a well worked fifth-minute free kick. Beech charged down a Matlock clearance in first half stoppage time that allowed the ball to reach 17-year-old Scott Metcalf and he profited from a rebound to claim the second. Shields was, by a country mile, the best player on the pitch and it was fitting that he put the gloss on the win with a rare goal. A sweeping Celtic attack seemed to have broken down on the edge of the visitors' area but the marauding midfielder arrived right on cue to skim a daisy cutter into the corner of the net from 20 yards.