Tingley Athletic U15s Green Struggle In Heavy Away Defeat At Farsley Celtic

Tingley Athletic U15s Green travelled to face Farsley Celtic Juniors U15 White at the latter’s home ground on 23 November 2025, with kick-off at 1:45pm. The league encounter, played over 80 minutes plus added time, ended in a comprehensive 8-2 defeat for Tingley Athletic. Despite a valiant effort, the visitors were overwhelmed by Farsley Celtic’s attacking prowess on their own turf.

Tingley Athletic lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, aiming to balance defensive solidity with attacking support. Josh Shepherd took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper, tasked with organising the backline and making crucial saves. The defensive quartet consisted of Anthony Dobke at right back, Sam Richardson and Abdul Ali as central defenders, and Lucas Pannett-Jones covering the left flank. Across midfield, Harley-Jay Eastwood operated on the right wing, Luke Wilson and Jayden Day held the central midfield roles, while Lucas Kinder provided width on the left. Up front, the strike partnership featured Abhi Manda on the right and Kieran Bamforth on the left, expected to spearhead attacks and convert chances. Elijah Moon was named among the substitutes.

The match began disastrously for Tingley Athletic as Farsley Celtic capitalised on a defensive error within the opening two minutes to open the scoring. This early setback set the tone for a challenging morning ahead. At 15 minutes, Abhi Manda was flagged offside as he attempted to break through the opposition’s defensive line, halting a promising attacking move.

Josh Shepherd was called into action at 18 minutes, producing a vital parry to deny a Farsley Celtic effort, demonstrating his alertness despite the pressure. However, the visitors’ defensive woes persisted, leading to a substitution at 24 minutes when Elijah Moon replaced Abdul Ali in central defence, likely an attempt to shore up the backline.

Tingley’s attacking endeavours saw Abhi Manda shoot wide at 30 minutes, missing an opportunity to reduce the deficit. Yet, just two minutes later, Tingley found a breakthrough as Kieran Bamforth expertly finished a chance created by Jayden Day, pulling a goal back and injecting some hope into the visitors’ performance.

The momentum was short-lived as Lucas Kinder missed a penalty at 35 minutes, a crucial moment that could have narrowed the gap further. Farsley Celtic then struck twice in quick succession at 39 minutes, both goals stemming from defensive mistakes, compounding Tingley’s difficulties. Immediately after, Kieran Bamforth had another attempt at 40 minutes, though it did not find the target.

The first half concluded with a flurry of goals. At the 40th minute mark, Bamforth scored a close-range tap-in to bring Tingley’s tally to two. However, Farsley Celtic responded instantly, netting another goal inside the box at 41 minutes, restoring their commanding lead going into the break.

The second half saw Farsley Celtic continue their dominance. They added to their tally at 47 minutes and again at 64 minutes with a close-range tap-in, further extending their advantage. Tingley’s Luke Wilson attempted a shot at 65 minutes, followed by another effort from Abhi Manda at 70 minutes, but neither could trouble the opposition goalkeeper.

Late in the game, defensive lapses proved costly for Tingley as Farsley Celtic scored twice more in quick succession at 77 and 78 minutes, both goals capitalising on mistakes at the back. These final strikes sealed a heavy 8-2 victory for the home side.

Despite the scoreline, Tingley Athletic showed moments of promise, particularly through Kieran Bamforth’s two goals and the midfield creativity of Jayden Day and Luke Wilson. However, defensive errors and missed opportunities, including the penalty miss by Lucas Kinder, ultimately undermined their efforts. Farsley Celtic Juniors U15 White were clinical and relentless, securing a dominant win on their home patch.