Lancaster City comfortably beat Farsley AFC in the FA Cup Preliminary Round

Farsley AFC 1-3 Lancaster City

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Match Photos are HERE

Farsley AFC chief Neil Parsley admitted his side were not at the races as Lancaster City comfortably progressed into the FA Cup First Qualifying Round.
A 12th minute goal from Tom Kilfin was backed up by second-half headers from Mark Jackson and Ryan Elderton.
Farsley captain Robbie O’Brien scored a late penalty to give the home side a glimmer of hope, but Lancaster were never truly tested and safely held onto their lead in the final minutes.
Lancaster will travel to Spennymoor Town or Newton Aycliffe, who drew 3-3, in the next round and Parsley agreed that Farsley’s performance did not warrant a victory.



“We never got going, it is as simple as that,” Parsley told Sports Performer.
“Compared to how we have been in the first four games, obviously it is a massive disappointment for not just the players and management, but also the club for falling at the first hurdle in the FA Cup.
“To be honest, if you at look at it honestly, we got what we deserved.
“We conceded early and never got going. We had a little spell just before half-time where you thought ‘maybe’. We analysed it at half-time and said that we needed to raise it. But with conceding after 40 seconds into the second half, it was done and dusted.
“The first goal I’ll give to Lancaster. Paddy Miller made a decent clearance, but unfortunately it has come straight back and he got caught out of position. The kid took the goal well to be fair.
“The other two were poor. For a throw-in taker to get the ball back and be able to put a ball in the box unattended is not good. The third goal is very similar.
“Lancaster also had a goal disallowed in very similar circumstances. We just switched off and the concentration levels have to be better when defending situations like that.”



Lancaster scored with the first real chance of the game. After Miller’s failed clearance put Farsley back under pressure, Kilfin was able to beat right-back Anthony Lloyd to the ball. The striker then raced through on goal and was able to curl the ball round goalkeeper Tom Morgan.
Following the small celebrations, Elderton was bizarrely yellow carded for celebrating with a small minority of Lancaster supporters. It was cheap yellow card for a player who had not even scored himself.
Fortunately it did not come back to haunt him as Lancaster went on to effectively seal the win within a minute of the second half starting. The Farsley defence didn’t deal with left-back Gavin Clark and striker Jackson was on hand to head the ball past Morgan.



Neil Marshall wasted a chance to score for Lancaster before the visitors had a goal disallowed.
Farsley did respond with last week’s hat-trick Aiden Savory’s shot which cannoned back off the crossbar. Substitute Matty James also forced a save out of Lancaster stopper Danny McDonald.
Lancaster being able to soak up the Farsley pressure was vital as Darren Peacock’s men scored the decisive goal with 15 minutes remaining. Elderton was unmarked at the back-post and his diving header ensured there was no way back for Farsley.
The home side’s penalty soon followed when Glenn Steel fouled Savory. O’Brien converted Farsley’s fifth penalty in five games, but it was too late for a dramatic comeback.
Farsley AFC: Morgan, Lloyd, Serrant, O’Brien, Dempsey, Miller, Hull, Young (Grant 70), Ellington, Savory, Thompson (James 54). Subs unused: Higginson, Bambrook, Riley.
Lancaster City: MacDonald, Wills, Clark, Steel, Marshall, Mahoney, Akrigg, Hunter, Kilfin (Wearing 83), Jackson (Liley 87), Elderton. Subs unused: McKenna, Winder, Henry, Hudson, Millar.
Referee: M Rawcliffe
Attendance: 136
Man of the match: Ryan Elderton (Lancaster)