Stalybridge Celtic

Reporter: Stalybridge Celtic
Date online: 12 April 2010

Celtic played two, lost two this week.

First up was a trip to Rivacre park to face relegation threatened Vauxhall, and we handed them a life line. There was an element of controversy about the opening goal after Richard Battersby was flattened and sustained an injury that not only ended his game, but his season too. Jon Edgerton was found by Karl Noon and, one-on-one with Dave Carnell put the home side one up.

Battersby’s replacement, Barrie Keeling, was caught out, and without trying, Vauxhall were two up, through Karl Noon. Celtic started the second half at full tilt, and Vauxhall looked panicked, with James Coates twice in rapid succession required to keep out a rampant Celtic, first parrying Jody Banim’s thunderous drive, and then blocking Barrie Keeling’s follow up.

Coates was under constant pressure, and when he dropped the ball at Keith Briggs feet, in the mad scramble Briggs was credited with the goal, though Michael Carr, back from injury was the one who got the telling touch over the line. Briggs was then denied by a flying Coates save, before Celtic ran out of steam and Lee Dames was allowed to run the full length of the pitch with five minutes to go, slip the ball through to Karl Noon to notch his second of the match. In stoppage time, Briggs saw another fine save from Coates, before Steve Woods was hauled back on the corner by Tom Grice and Warren Peyton converted the spot kick to add a sheen of respectability to a pedestrian performance from Celtic.

Due to family commitments, I was unable to get to Corby, but from the reports received, it was a similar story against better opposition.

Jody Banim kicked off Celtic’s game with a fine goal, before Celtic’s defending from crosses let them down, Leon Mettham nodding home the equaliser just before half time, and then more poor defending from corners let them down in the second half, Jack Defty scoring three times from three corners with his head, the fifth goal a distance effort from Glen Walker that Dave Carnell fumbled.

Between the two games, Danny Adams was released, whilst Richard Battersby’s injury at Vauxhall means the fullback will now play no further part in Celtic’s season.

Results for the last two games:
Saturday 10 April Corby Town Away 1 - 5 Banim
Monday 5 April Vauxhall Motors Away 2 - 3 Briggs, Peyton