BASEMENT side Farsley Celtic ended Harriers’ latest unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory that saw both sides finish with ten men.

The Aggborough outfit never managed to get any semblance of control on a blustery afternoon that saw a total of three red cards brandished.

Farsley, rooted to the bottom of the table, were ahead at the midway point of the first half thanks to a well taken Jimmy Spencer goal as he angled a first-time drive past Luke Simpson.

Former Harrier Kennedy Digie then came within a lick of a paint of doubling the lead as he struck the inside of the post before the visitors levelled matters from the penalty spot Through on goal, striker Amari Morgan-Smith was brought down by goalkeeper Kyle Trenerry. Ashley Hemmings stepped up to make it 13 for the season from 12 yards.

The second half saw near bedlam descend on The Citadel, with Farsley going 2-1 up not long after the hour when they were awarded a penalty of their own. Morgan-Smith was penalised for handball in the area, and Will Hayhurst stepped up to power his effort beyond Luke Simpson.

Neither side managed to put together a meaningful spell of pressure throughout the afternoon, not helped by a tricky playing surface that kept both sets of players guessing.

It could still have gone either way, though, especially after both sides were reduced to ten men. Home boss Russ Wilcox had already been given his marching orders for booting the ball away, before one of his own players in skipper Chris Atkinson joined him for a second bookable offence.

Before Harriers good build any kind of advantage, they too were a man light after sub Joe Foulkes was dismissed for two careless yellows in less than 20 minutes following his introduction.

Eight minutes of added time failed to yield a second equaliser for Harriers – or indeed a chance of note – with Jimmy O’Connor left to reflect on the madness of it all at full time.

Three reds, a handful of yellows and two penalties from a tie in where there never seemed any malice – he could only explain: “There was niggle, niggle throughout and you can see that on the pitch.

“There were 22 men out there with egos flying everywhere – it happens, it’s a football game so no complaints there.

“It was difficult for the referee because it was chaos from minute one, the ball was bouncing round and there was no rhythm to the game whatsoever.

“You’re not talking shape and tactics. You’re talking the basics of football, and it was so difficult.

“We tried to do the right things, but it becomes very difficult when you concede and go behind again in the second half… it didn’t quite happen for us today – no complaints, we’ll take it on the chin.”

Harriers travel to league leaders Gateshead next weekend.