TWO of the UniBond first division's promotion contenders fought out a tight battle in which goalmouth action was limited, the main excitement stemming from a mass brawl towards the end of an otherwise quiet first half.

Celtic skipper Chris Stabb committed a foul on Chorley's David Eatock right in front of the dug-outs and the majority of the players, plus personnel from both benches, were immediately embroiled in a wholesale punch-up which ground-stewards were forced to help to break up.

When order was at length restored, surprisingly only Stabb was yellow-carded, although the referee also ordered Farsley's assistant manager and a reserve player from the dug-out to seats in the stand.

There had been little prospect of a goal in a defence-dominated opening half but the action sharpened after the break.

Farsley went ahead in the 58th minute when a break down the left produced an inviting cross which Michael Midwood met with a perfectly-timed volley into the corner of the net.

Chorley promptly made a double substitution up front and it almost paid off quickly when Dean Butterworth's thunderous shot was parried by keeper Liam Sutcliffe.

Then Danny Mills fired inches wide from outside the box and later was only just too high with a flashing header after clever footwork on the by-line by Anthony Hogan had set up the sharp chance.

The determined visitors looked likely to hang on to their lead in the closing stages but with five minutes to go Darren Emmett seized on a partial clearance from a right-wing centre to equalise with a hard, low shot into the corner from the edge of the box.

The Magpies' marketing strategy in inviting local children's teams to the club for a seven-a-side at half-time is happily paying dividends in increased attendances.

But the lack of discipline on the pitch was a sorry spectacle to put before the youngsters in Saturday's crowd of 321.

CHORLEY...1 FARSLEY CELTIC...1