First Division North semi-finals review

Farsley produced a fine performance to beat Colne FC 4-0 at home on Tuesday night, whilst Ossett achieved a notable 3-1 success at Queensgate over Scarborough Athletic in the semi-finals.

Farsley, who ended the regular season as runners-up to champions Lancaster City, finished 12 points clear of fifth-placed Colne, and they took a 26th minute lead when visiting keeper Greg Hartley flapped at a Lewis Nightingale corner, with the ball falling to Aiden Savory who tapped home from close range.

The hosts then almost killed the Lancastrians off with a two-goal burst in two minutes just before half-time. Peter Davidson rounded Hartley and picked out James Walshaw, with the league’s top scorer on hand to net number two. Then Nightingale’s corner travelled all the way through to Walshaw at the far post who nodded the ball onto Adam Clayton who headed past Hartley.

Colne had their first clear-cut opportunity of the game on the hour-mark as Jason Hart volleyed over, before Farsley had the chance to go further ahead when they were awarded a penalty when Nightingale was brought down in the box. Richard Marshall took the spot-kick but saw his effort pushed away by Hartley.

Farsley then added the icing to the cake with a fourth goal nine minutes from time as Jordan Deacey sent Nightingale racing towards goal and he capped a superb performance as he fired into the back of the net.

A crowd of 1,004 turned up at Bridlington to watch the Yorkshire derby between Scarborough Athletic and Ossett Town and were greeted by dreadful conditions – snow falling almost throughout the contest.

The home side suffered a blow ahead of kick-off with the news that top scorer Benny Igiehon would miss the game because of injury. A tight game was anticipated as both sides finished on seventy-three points in the regular season, with Boro earning third place, courtesy of scoring three goals more.

It was the visitors who drew first blood after 35 minutes when good work from Danny Frost led to Jason Yates opening the scoring. Scarborough pulled back on level terms three minutes into the second half when Adam Bolder converted a penalty after the referee punished Town for handball. But on the hour-mark, Ossett won a spot-kick of their own and Yates duly converted to make it 2-1.

Five minutes later, Town effectively won the tie when Ashley Jackson headed home number three. It meant that not only did Grant Black`s side make Saturday`s final against Farsley, but they remained unbeaten in three contests against their illustrious neighbours.

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