Kane Crichlow claims added-time consolation as Bishop’s Stortford lose 3-1 at Farsley Celtic in National League North
Kane Crichlow claimed an added-time consolation as Bishop’s Stortford went down 3-1 at Farsley Celtic in Vanarama National League North on Saturday (February 3).
The Blues, who have now suffered eight consecutive league defeats, remain bottom of the table, 15 points adrift of 20th-placed King’s Lynn Town who represent safety.
Stortford will put their league troubles to one side when they entertain Coalville Town in the fifth round of the Isuzu FA Trophy this Saturday (February 10).
The hosts needed just nine minutes to go in front at The Citadel as Noah Wadsworth fired into the net having made a run from left-back.
Blues captain and goalkeeper Jack Giddens was forced to tip a header from Clayton Donaldson, the West Yorkshire side’s player-manager, over the bar while Thomas Allan headed over at the back post as the hosts looked for a second goal.
The Blues fashioned a chance when Aaron Greene dribbled into the box, but he shot straight at Zan-Luk Leban.
There was a delay at the end of the half when referee Liam Corbett suffered an injury, resulting in one of his assistants taking the whistle and Stortford’s goalkeeping coach Dannie Tippett running the line. A replacement official was found during the interval.
And the Celts doubled their lead in the fifth minute of time added on at the end of the first period as skipper Christopher Atkinson beat Giddens with a powerful long-range strike.
After the break, Giddens kept out Harvey Rowe’s effort from the edge of the box before, at the other end, Greene curled wide after evading three tackles and Crichlow missed a couple of chances.
The hosts pulled further clear in the 74th minute when Blues substitute Emmanuel Oke’s miscued clearance fell kindly to Donaldson, who played a through ball to Michael Coulson who in turn squared it to give Ben Atkinson a far-post tap-in.
Wadsworth’s looping cross cannoned off the post with Giddens having left it to go behind and Coulson had a goal ruled out for offside.
The Blues pulled one back in the first minute of added time as Crichlow slotted the ball through Leban’s legs.
Farsley Celtic: Leban, Assenso, Wadsworth, Evans, Misambo (B Atkinson 47), Allan, Rowe (Carroll 68), C Atkinson, Donaldson (booked 77, Ameho 85), Coulson, Leverett. Not used: Branson, Smith.
Blues: Giddens, Haines (Oke 46), Di Trolio, Kassarate (booked 77), Robbins, Crichlow, Olufemi (McGregor 70), Sow, Thomas (Lusardi 84), Greene, Alexander. Not used: Beadle, Charles.
Attendance: 552.
