Farsley clinch promotion to Conference

Forget Roy of the Rovers, the Farsley fantasy is better than any fiction.

The Celts, average crowd 380, are in the Conference. Read that again. They will be rubbing shoulders next season with the likes of Oxford, Halifax and York.

They are closer, in league terms, to City and even Leeds than they are to Park Avenue.

What an unbelievable job Lee Sinnott has done for the Throstle Nest part-timers he inherited in the UniBond First Division four years ago.

In a town famous for its brewery, Farsley were toasting the most amazing chapter so far in their non-stop success story.

Even Sinnott admitted he didn't see this one coming.

With 13 minutes to go, the Celts were trailing Hinckley 2-1 and seemingly out of ideas.

Having scored first through former City striker Gareth Grant, they had seen the Leicestershire side bounce back with two goals in the next six minutes. The gallant adventure seemed over. Or did it?

Never write off these comeback kings.

Suddenly Ryan Crossley threads a long ball into the path of Damian Reeves, who was calmness personified as he advanced on keeper Sean Bowles and fired into the bottom corner.

Even then, though, it looked like Farsley had shot themselves in the foot by allowing Hinckley to go 3-2 ahead with just seven minutes to go.

Nobody closed down right back Stuart Storer and his cross was nodded back into the mix and headed down and in by the impressive Neil Cartwright, who had started the night's mayhem by smashing the Farsley bar after three minutes.

So the comeback was surely over. Not for this lot, it wasn't.

The Celts won a free-kick to the left of the box, four players rushed in for a well-rehearsed routine and Crossley connected with a bullet header.

Extra-time loomed for a side that had gone the longest route possible in the semis to see off much-fancied Kettering. But this is Farsley, after all, and there was inevitably one more twist in the tale.

Grant teased his way into the box where Leon Jackson stuck out a foolish boot. It wasn't the heaviest contact but enough to convince referee Richard West - and fireman Simeon Bambrook somehow stayed ice cool to drill in the penalty.

Hinckley may have done the double over Farsley during the regular season and they may have had the advantage in the stands with at least three times as many fans making the 45-minute journey.

And few would argue they were the better side for three-quarters of the match. But like a sprinter timing their run to perfection to chest the tape first, Farsley came rattling up the home straight to nick it when it mattered.

It left Sinnott lost for words - at least lost for a new word to sum up his side's latest glory.

"I'm absolutely stunned," he admitted. "I can't think of any other way of describing it. But I'm going to have to think of something new because it keeps happening!"

Sinnott's stock as a manager cannot get much higher. You wonder if Julian Rhodes was watching intently as his search for a new boss at the Valley Parade helm goes on.

Grant struck the first blow after 15 minutes, gaining instant revenge for being taken out by keeper Bowles when through - and then getting a nonsensical booking for diving.

Roy Stamer's cross from the left eluded a jumping defender and fell for Grant to pull the ball down and nonchalantly slot into the net.

The goal, though, only served to fire up Hinckley who were level within four minutes and then grabbed the lead themselves just two minutes later.

A corner caused total panic in the Farsley ranks and found its way to Peter Shilton's son Sam to fire home from the edge of the penalty area.

And the Celts quickly found themselves behind as more creaky defending was punished, the lively Cartwright.nodding in from Andy Brown's scuffed effort.

It was end to end stuff as Bowles brilliantly denied Ryan Crossley's header and Tom Birch was booked for cynically pulling back Damian Reeves as he looked to escape.

Morgan kept out Jackson's volley as half-time approached before Grant missed a great chance for Farsley to go in level. James Knowles set him up, laying the ball back from the byline, but Grant did not get a strong enough connection and a relieved Bowles was able to drop on the ball.

Sinnott tried to stir up a response at half-time and Farsley briefly burst out the blocks with Stamer's shot on the turn not missing by much.

But the longer the second period wore on, the more Hinckley looked to be in the driving seat. How wrong could you be.

FARSLEY: Morgan, Downes, Crossley, Iqbal, Serrant, Watson (Tuck 76min, Sugden 89min), Knowles, Bambrook, Stamer (Allanson 57min), Grant, Reeves. Subs (not used): Walls, Cuss.

HINCKLEY: Bowles, Storer, Love, Birch, Shilton, Cartwright, Lavery, Nurse (Story 89min), Jackson, Marrison, Brown. Subs (not used): Haystead, Cooper, Palmer, Platnauer.