Clitheroe 2 Farsley 1

 A disastrous day for Farsley saw their nine men slip to defeat at strugglers Clitheroe.

To add insult to injury, the two sendings off will have repercussions as suspensions are now pending.

Neil Parsley’s men made the trip over the Pennines fully expecting to return with the three points. They had won last time out, were in the top four and were taking on lower mid-table opposition.

They were soon aware that it was not to be their day as the home side’s Josh Hine slipped marker Tom Jackson before driving in the opening goal in the 15th minute.

It was an eventful first half for Jackson as he came close to atoning for his error when he hit a post five minutes later and was then taken off injured after being hurt following a bad tackle.

Farsley were reduced to ten men just five minutes after the break when Josh Radcliffe was dismissed following a two-footed lunge. The resulting free- kick was headed in at the far post by Jack Higgins to give the home side a 2-0 lead.

Parsley shuffled his pack, brought centre back Lee Connor on from the bench and also introduced the attacking threat of Dave Stead. It was a calculated attempt to win the game but that was never on the cards following David Briggs’ sending off in the 76th minute.

The second straight red card of the afternoon means Jackson and Briggs are facing three-game bans.

Stead did pull a goal back but it was two minutes into stoppage time and a mere consolation.