The distractions heaped on the visitors for Bully's welcome party included a parade of celebrities, among them Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin fame, Stan Collymore – who started his career at Stafford – and Buster, a real live bull.

Farsley, though, simply got on with the job in hand.

"It was difficult circumstances we had to deal with – a big crowd, Steve Bull's first game at home – that's what we measured our team talk around," said Deacey after the game.

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"We weathered the storm for 10 to 15 minutes but they didn't really trouble us a lot after that, while we put them under a lot of pressure and our work rate was tremendous.

"We got on top in all areas and the performances were good from one to 11."

Deacey was also pleased that his team kept a clean sheet for the fourth time since the turn of the year.

"I've said all along we have a very solid side and a decent squad. We're going to stay up," he said.

Farsley's rock-solid performance was capped by a first-half goal from Steve Torpey and a spot-kick from Dominic Krief in the second half turned Bull's party completely sour.

Farsley's twin pillars of Amjad Iqbal and Georges Santos made sure Stafford's latest acquisition, teenage hot-shot Liam Hughes who was playing his first game on loan from Wolves, did not get a look in.

And Stafford's talisman, York-born Neil Grayson, still scoring goals at 43 years of age, was also shut out.

Farsley winger Andy Watson did the damage in the first half, including the 25th-minute cross that Torpey headed home.

Ross Draper's rash challenge on Iqbal in a goalmouth scramble just on the hour left Krief to seal up the result.

The win lifted Celtic out of the relegation zone after Halifax did them a favour by beating Weymouth.

It also opened up a 10-point gap between themselves and Stafford, who were on an unbeaten four- match run and threatening to stage their own great escape.

Bull is refusing to give up hopes of catching Farsley and the other relegation candidates.

He said: "We won't be giving it up until it's mathematically impossible."

He also blamed the pre-match ballyhoo for his team's poor showing, adding: "I think they left their spirit in the dressing room.

"I told them all the attention is going to be about me today – some were shell-shocked and couldn't cope with it."

STAFFORD RANGERS: Alcock, Sutton, Sangare, Daniel, Hazley (Reid 9), Shaw, Meakin-Richards (Jarrett 62), Draper, Street, Grayson, Hughes. Subs not used: Allen, Flynn, Gibson.

FARSLEY CELTIC: Aspden, Jackson, Prendergast, Bentham, S McNiven, Krief, Iqbal, Watson, Reeves, Torpey (Bambrook 83), Santos. Subs not used: Backhouse, Knowles, Stamer, Heath.

REFEREE: D Coote (Newark).