The striker, who has arrived on loan from Stafford Rangers, netted with his first touch at St James'Park after coming off the bench shortly after the hour mark.

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But his magnificent finish could not prevent the Farsley from slipping to a narrow defeat against high-flying Exeter City.

The defeat leaves Celtic in the relegation zone, but McNiven has set his sights on helping his new club, who are two points behind Altrincham and Weymouth, to escape the drop.

"It is just a matter of getting points on the board and hopefully we will catch them," said McNiven. "I think it is not just between three teams, it might be between five or six. The sooner we get the points on the board the better it will be.

"We have just got to keep concentrating on ourselves and try and get as many points as possible.

"I was pleased to get off the mark and get my first goal for a club in my first game. Hopefully I can score enough to keep us up now."

Farsley were more than a match for an under-par City side and will count themselves unfortunate not to have claimed a point.

The Grecians broke the deadlock with their first meaningful attack of the match after Danny Seaborne bundled the ball home from close range.
The Devon side opened up a two-goal cushion 12 minutes later when central defender Matt Taylor fired home after Seaborne's header had been blocked inside the six-yard box.

Farsley almost hit back immediately when Steve Torpey brought a smart save out of City keeper Andy Marriott after the veteran striker had latched on to McNiven's free-kick.

McNiven set up a gripping climax when he galloped clear of a static City backline and produced a cool finish.

But the visitors could not take advantage of some late pressure and were forced to endure their 11th defeat on the road this season.

McNiven added: "We played well and with a bit more luck we could have come away with at least a point. The lads feel we gave a good account of ourselves, we were just unfortunate we conceded two goals from set pieces - that is what upset us more than anything.

"But that is the way football is and Exeter have got the three points and that is why they are up there."

EXETER CITY: Marriott, Tully, Edwards, Seaborne, M Taylor, Carlisle, Gill, A Taylor, Moxey, Logan (Basham, 66), Stansfield (Friend, 86). Subs not used: Jones, Elam, Cozic

FARSLEY CELTIC: Aspden, Jackson, McNiven, Santos (Knowles, 14) Prendergast (Stamer, 60), Iqbal, Watson, Bentham, Krief, Torpey (D McNiven, 63), Reeves. Subs not used: Backhouse, Bambrook.

REFEREE: A Watts.

ATTENDANCE: 3,339.