FA Trophy: Farsley 3 AFC Telford 4 - Report and pictures

After taking a first half lead on the half hour mark through Daniel Udoh, the visitors levelled in stoppage time with Nathan Cartman poking home.

Then the topsy-turvy tussle went back and to with five second half goals keeping the cup tie alive until the end.

On loan Shrewsbury Town man Ryan Barnett lashed the Bucks in front, before Jon Royle made three 15 minutes from time.

But Jack Dyche headed home to keep it alive, and then Henry Cowans fired home eight minutes from time to hand Telford a fourth.

But Celtic would not lie down as Dyche headed in again two minutes from the end, to set up a nervy finish for the hardened Bucks fans who braved the bitter conditions.

The home side survived a late flurry and managed to hang on and book their place in the hat for Monday's draw.

Buck boss Gavin Cowan showed in his team selection that no one is guaranteed a starting spot, with two of his usual first eleven regulars dropped to the bench.

Jon Royle and Darryl Knights, who have started near enough every game were left out.

That allowed Andre Brown to stake his place for a regular spot in the side, with Steph Morley also coming in after serving a two match ban.

Despite being a league below, Celtic arrived in Telford brimming with confidence having won seven games on the spin in all competitions, and sitting pretty in third place.

The Bucks would have been hoping for an early goal to settle any cup nerves, but they almost got off to the worst possible start.

Theo Streete was robbed of possession in a dangerous area, with a through ball finding Ben Atkinson six yards out, but he slid and an effort past Andy Wycherley, and luckily for the Bucks, wide of the post.

It was an early wake up call, with visiting Yorkshire side showing they were up for the cup after dumping out fellow National League North side Alfreton in the previous round.

They went close again on nine minutes with Wycherley tipping a long range Luke Parkin effort wide.

The opening exchanges were end to end, everything you want from a cup tie, with the Bucks themselves going close to an opener.

A corner was headed out to Morley on the edge of the box, and his low shot was parried by Kyle Trenerry, but the ball didn't fall right for Udoh who could only skew the re-bound wide.

It was an open start to the game as Issac Baldwin had a shot from a narrow angle saved, with Udoh looking lively at the other end for the Bucks.

Farsley were a side bang in form and fancying a cup scalp, and they thought they should have been awarded a spot kick on the half hour mark.

Parkin's first free kick from the edge of the box hit James McQuilkin and the midfielder was booked for encroachment.

His second bite at the cherry struck the midfielder again and went behind for a corner, but Celtic were incensed as they believed the free kick struck his hand in the box.

The visitors went close again moments later as skipper Daniel Ellis fired wide following a mini scramble, with Lewis Turner's shot following a move down the right hitting the side netting.

The in form visitors had enjoyed the better of the chances, however against the run of play on 33 minutes, the Bucks struck.

Henry Cowans' free kick was headed back into the mix by skipper Shane Sutton, and it fell for top marksman Udoh who took a touch before poking the ball home.

The momentum swung the way of Cowan's side after the goal, who up until that point had played some decent stuff without creating chances.

They had opportunities to increase their lead at the break, with Cowans' free kick parried by stopper Trenerry, who also kept out an Andre Brown shot.

It looked as if Telford would be taking a slender lead into the break, but as the game moved into added time the lower league opposition had other ideas.

The impressive Wycherley produced two top saves to deny Cartman and then Spencer.

But he was eventually beaten two minutes into added time when a corner was headed into the danger zone by Ellis, with the ball falling to Cartman who prodded home from two yards.

Bucks chief Cowan would have been less than impressed with his side for failing to close out the first period, especially when it looked as if they had just started to take a hold of the game.

They had a scare at the start of the second half. but Cartman lacked compsure after being found by Spencer in the box and he fired an effort high over the bar.

Both sides were enjoying spells of possession, then out of nothing just before the hour mark Barnett lashed home from long range to give the hosts the lead for the second time in the game.

He picked up the ball 25 yards out and as the visiting defence stood off, he unleashed a low drive that nestled in the corner and left the keeper standing.

It was the first time the attacker had a sight at goal, and he snatched the opportunity with both hands.

Then 15 minutes from time substitute Royle struck with virtually his first touch of the ball to give the hosts a two goal buffer.

A cross from the left from Morley was headed out into the path of the midfielder, who calmly found the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Telford would have been hoping to see out the last 15 minutes without drama, but this is cup football and the Northern Premier League visitors were in no mood to give up easily.

Within two minutes of the goal, Farsley were back in it.

They raced up the other end and a cross from the right found substitute Dyche whose header was too fierce for Wycherley and nestled in the corner.

The game was going back and to, with Farsley now looking the most likely to score.

They began to fire balls into the Bucks box, but the back line soaked up the pressure and kept the plucky visitors at bay before extending the lead eight minutes from time.

Barnett's cross deflected of a defender and looped to the back post, where Cowans was unmarked to lash the ball home.

But again, Farsley just would not lie-down.

Seconds after substitute Matthew Barnes-Homer had struck the woodwork, Dyche looped a header over the goalkeeper to keep the cup tie alive once more.

They applied some late pressure, but Telford manage to battle their way through a couple of late scrambles to took their place in round two.

KEY MOMENTS

5 - CHANCE - Streete loses possession in a dangerous area with a through ball finding Ben Atkinson in the box but his shot went inches wide of the mark.

11 - CHANCE - Morley's shot from the edge of the box is parried by keeper, and but it doesn't fall right for Udoh who can only fire wide.

33 - GOAL - Cowans' deep free kick to the back post is headed back into the danger zone by Sutton. It falls to Udoh who takes a touch before poking it beyond the keeper.

45 - SAVES - First Wycherley rushes off his line to deny Cartman, before flying to his right to push away a driving effort from Spencer

45+2 - GOAL - Farsley's late pressure finally tells as Cartman turns the ball home from two yards, after Ellis had headed a corner back into the mix.

59 - GOAL - A first goal in a Bucks shirt for the impressive Barnett. He picked up the ball 25 yards out and his low shot arrows into the corner, leaving Trenerry standing.

75 - GOAL - Telford get a third as a cross comes out to Royle who calmly slots the ball home from the edge of the box.

77 - GOAL - Within two minutes the visitors are back in it as Dyche powers in a header at the near post.

82 - GOAL - Cowans lashes a fourth home, after a Barnett cross deflects to the feet of the midfielder at the back post

88 - GOAL - They still don't lie-down. Celtic come back again as Dyche latches onto a cross to loop a header into the net.

TEAMS

AFC Telford United: (3-5-2) - Wycherley, White, Morley, Deeney, Sutton, Streete, Cowans, McQuilkin (Royle 69), Brown (Morgan-Smith 66), Udoh (Barnes-Homer 82), Barnett

Subs not used: Knights, Daniels

Farsley Celtic: (3-5-2) - Trenerry, Clayton, Higgins, Ellis, Turner, Baldwin (Dyce 90), B Atkinson (Bower 74), C Atkinson, Parkin (Walker 60), Spencer, Cartman

Subs not used: Bett, Dyche, Hayhurst

Referee - Robert Massey-Ellis

Attendance - 452