Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

FARSLEY CELTIC 2 – 0 DROYLSDEN

FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round – Saturday 22 November 2008

Report by Gary Owen

Clearly with an eye on next weeks' crunch FA Cup Second Round tie at Chesterfield, Bloods' boss Dave Pace rang the changes to rest some players and give others a chance to stake a claim for a starting place at Saltergate.

There were no fewer than six different faces in the starting eleven at Throstle Nest than lined-up in the FA Cup replay over Darlington. This tactic also kept the watching Chesterfield fraternity guessing as to what they might expect next Saturday.

Nevertheless, Droylsden would have preferred not to bow out of this season's premier non-league competition at the first hurdle, but their task was not aided by the rightful dismissal of skipper Jamie McGuire on 34 minutes, for attempting to head-butt an opponent after he had conceded a free-kick.

Perhaps McGuire was frustrated at the fact that the referee had awarded a free kick against Droylsden just moments earlier, yet Dominic Krief won the free kick for Farsley for committing an identical offence.

Notwithstanding the lead-up to the incident, violent conduct cannot be condonded, and McGuire was given his marching orders, slamming the Captain's armband to the ground in disgust – hopefully with himself, rather than at the referee, who had little option given McGuire's actions.

The match itself was not a memorable affair, with chances at a premium on a bitterly cold afternoon.

Droylsden did create the first opportunity, though, but Carl Lamb's header somehow went wide in the opening two minutes.

Play then swung to the other end as Kyle Clancy had to tip over a header from Matthew James, and Jake Speight flashed a header across the face of goal from the resultant corner kick.

Ashley Burbeary shot tamely at Curtis Aspden, but the best chance of the half fell on 20 minutes to Andy Campbell, but the former Halifax and Middlesbrough striker shot over from just 10 yards out after he had been unselfishly set-up by Lee Tuck.

The hosts took the lead 8 minutes into the second half, when a low corner kick was allowed to roll across the goal, where Amjad Iqbal stuck out a foot to stab home from close range. It was a poor goal to concede from Droylsden's point of view, as the ball should have been cleared at the near post.

Lamb was then presented with an opportunity to level matters, but he elected to shoot from the edge of the box when it might have been more beneficial to take the ball on a stride or two to commit Aspden. In the end, his shot flew wide of the mark.

Dave Pace then signalled his intentions by exchanging Steve Halford for the pacey Domaine Rouse, leaving just three defenders in his rearguard.

However, it was Farsley who created the next chances, with both Craig Bentham and Speight shooting wide of the mark.

Kevin Townson was then presented with two opportunities for The Bloods, but his first was over from 25 yards with Lamb looking for a slotted pass, and Aspden saved his second low at the near post, with Lamb and Rouse better placed in central positions.

A hooked shot over the shoulder from Neil Prince was then easy for Aspden as Droylsden finally began to chalk-up more efforts on goal, but none really threatened the Celtic ‘keeper.

Lamb saw a header go wide from a corner kick, but Farsley sealed the victory with 6 minutes remaining, when James capped a fine run to beat Clancy inside his right hand post with a low drive from 20 yards.

TEAMS:

Farsley Celtic

Aspden, Price, Serrant, Iqbal, Knowles, Bentham, James (Driscoll, 90'), Krief (Downes, 81'), Campbell, Speight, Tuck (Broughton, 90').

Unused Subs: Driscoll, Jackson

Droylsden

Clancy, Roche, Newton, Dugdale, Halford (Rouse, 60'), Pickford, Burbeary (Beck, 66'), McGuire, Lamb, Townson (Tipton, 76'), Prince.

Unused Subs: Brownhill, Cryan.

Referee: Mr. Ian Siddall (Bolton, Greater Manchester)

ATTENDANCE: 207