Farsley Celtic 0, Gloucester City 1

A saved penalty early in the game proved to be pivotal as Farsley Celtic suffered a frustrating defeat against fellow Blue Square North survival hopefuls Gloucester City at Throstle Nest.

The visitors survived the scare and hit back to open the scoring just three minutes later. That turned out to be the winning goal as Gloucester set their stall out to do anything in their power to protect the lead.

Celts boss Neil Parsley had no complaints about his squad or their efforts but said: “I was very disappointed to come away with nothing from that game, especially the second half.

“The players did everything but score and they deserved something from it. We chased the game and went to three at the back, put Gareth Grant on from the bench and even threw Simeon Bambrook on for the last few minutes.

“It’s funny how things happen. We get a stonewall penalty, their keeper makes a very good save and soon after we are 1-0 down.

“I don’t think Dom’s (skipper Krief) penalty miss hit our confidence or gave Gloucester a boost. It was just one of those things, a good run and finish by their lad, and to be fair to them the defended really well after that.”

It was a foul on Dave Syers, who was playing up front with Grant on the bench following a comeback from a rib injury, which led to the spot-kick. Krief struck it well and it was heading inside the post but it was a nice height for the visitors’ diving keeper.

City’s goal was well crafted, if the final touch was a little fortuitous. Mike Symons picked up the ball in the inside left channel and pushed it wide for Jack Pitcher, whose low centre found Ben Hunt.

Hunt tricked his marker to get through to a one-on-one chance only to scuff his second touch, but it had enough on it to sneak under Celts keeper Josh Bell.

The visitors were still a threat on the break but it was Farsley who created the better openings.

Lee Ellington and City keeper Mike Green clashed in an aerial challenge just after the half hour but when Krief fired the loose ball at the unguarded net, a covering defender got back just in time to hack off the line.

In the second half, Mark Jackson clipped a cheeky back-heeled effort over the bar, Grant had a strong penalty claim waved away, Krief saw a shot deflected for a corner and Green made two top-class saves.

The Celts will be hoping for better luck when they travel to Hyde United in the league tomorrow night.

Parsley said: “It will be exactly the same squad because I was proud of the lads and their efforts against Gloucester.

“We failed to keep the momentum going in the last few minutes and the four of stoppage time. That was a shame because we lost the head of steam we had built up towards the end.”