Evo-Stik Division One North: Witton Albion 2 Farsley Celtic 1

FARSLEY Celtic’s play-off hopes were all but snuffed out by a third consecutive defeat last night as they let a lead slip.

The Celts' Leon Osborne had broken the deadlock with the only goal in the first half but Jeff King equalised minutes after the interval.

Witton then won it thanks to a penalty a quarter of an hour before the end, after a Chris Howarth foul, Danny Andrews converting the spot-kick.

It was also a bad night for relegation-threatened Silsden in the North West Counties League Premier Division as they lost by the same scoreline at promotion-chasing 1874 Northwich.

The home side took the lead just before half-time, but the Cobbydalers’ assistant player-manager, former Bradford City man Danny Forrest, levelled with less than eight minutes remaining.

Unfortunately for James Gill’s men, there was still time for Matthew Beadle to hit Northwich’s winner.

The long-awaited Northern Counties East League Cup derby between Thackley and Eccleshill United went to extra-time, and it was the top-tier hosts that progressed to the fourth round at the expense of their Division One visitors.

However, it was far from straightforward for the Dennyboys as the Eagles came back from a two-goal deficit, and were only defeated in the second extra period.

Thackley were two goals to the good in quick time via Ryan Farrell and Jerome White.

Eccleshill hit back in the second half with a brace from goal machine Luke Harrop, his second coming in the 90th minute to take the tie all the way.

But Adam Simpson put the Dennyboys back in front and Farrell added his second, in the 120th minute, to make it 4-2 to the home side.

Tonight Albion Sports host Premier Division rivals Barton Town in the fourth round of the cup, while Liversedge look to continue their quest to escape relegation from the top tier when they travel to Cleethorpes Town, looking to extend their four-game unbeaten run.