Stalybridge Celtic

Reporter: Stalybridge Celtic
Date online: 23 February 2010

It has been a mixed week for Jim Harvey’s Celtic. On Tuesday, Farsley were gifted three points by a stuttering Celtic who still managed to enjoy the majority of the possession and chances. The first half saw Farsley fail to register a shot, whilst Jody Banim saw his shot deflected, and Joe O’Neill saw Josh Bell tip his low strike out for a corner. Farsley were more adventurous in the second half, with Dominic Krief going one-on-one with Dave Carnell, with the Celtic keeper coming out on top. Banim saw another shot charged down, whilst both Joe O’Neill and Lee Ellington hit the side netting.

The visitors looked the more likely scorers, and Kreif’s distance effort had to be tipped over the bar by Carnell before the Celtic keeper was helpless when Matty Young’s thirty yard effort took a wicked deflection off Steve Woods leaving Carnell stranded. Celtic were unable to break down a galvanised Farsley and apart from Josh Bell saving the points from a Warren Peyton curling free kick, there was precious little action after the goal.

Saturday away at Gloucester also started slowly, with Keith Briggs sidelined through injury. However, again the early chances fell to Celtic, Andy Smart’s early effort saved well by Mike Green, and Joe O’Neill volleying Jody Banim’s well weighted ball wide.

At the start of the second half, John Hardiker mistimed a challenge in the box, and Lee Smith struck a good penalty to send Dave Carnell the wrong way. When it became clear that Celtic were struggling to find a way through the Gloucester back line, so Banim and Hankin were sacrificed, the pitch not suiting their style of play, and Craig Hobson and Barrie Keeling were brought on. The two big men caused mayhem in the Gloucester box, with Keeling nodding down Peyton’s lofted ball for Joe O’Neill to sweep home and bring Celtic on level terms.

With Gloucester unable to deal with both the big men Celtic were looking more rampant. With injury time running out, Craig Hobson was brought down in the box, and the game’s second penalty was awarded. It was a curate’s egg as to who would take it, with plenty of pressure on Warren Peyton who shouldered the responsibility as captain. Despite having missed the last six, virtually no time left in the game, and Celtic not having won in eight games, Peyton looked amazingly cool as he slotted home the winner straight from the spot.

Results for the last two games:

Sat, 20th February Gloucester City Away 2 - 1 ONeill, Peyton
Tue, 16th February Farsley Celtic Home 0 - 1