Stalybridge Celtic

Date published: 10 August 2010

Two friendlies this week, the first a midweeker against Witton where the squad improvement was increasingly apparent.

Graeme Law had returned from holiday and was straight into the starting eleven. In the opening ten minutes, he handed Witton a dream start by playing Ben Saynor into a world of trouble. Chris Smith picked up the loose ball for Witton, rounded Saynor and finished from an acute angle. From that point on, Celtic were in total control.

Mark Cooper pulled off save after save for the home side, denying Jody Banim off a free kick, Phil Marsh on a half volley, trialist Craig Mahon after he'd cut inside and unleashed a powerful shot and another Banim free kick. There was no denying Banim just before half time when he curled the ball the opposite way around the wall wrong footing Cooper. Cooper earned the draw with another save in the second half this time from Lloyd Ellams.

There was a win against Fleetwood on Saturday, and it came in impressive style, with nearly one-way traffic heading towards the Fleetwood goal. Craig Hobson opened the shooting and Scott Davies pulled off a great save. He denied Hobson again when Greg Wilkinson put him through with a peach of a pass, but there was nothing he could do from Phil Marsh's instant reply on the rebound. Wilkinson had a go himself from a narrow angle, with Davies there again.

The second half kept up the frenetic pace and Ben Saynor was called into action for the first time palming away a Jamie McGuire free kick, whilst at the other end McGuire stopped a goal using his face, and when Lee Elam snuck in at the back post it took an outstanding save from Davies to deny him. Saynor was needed in the last ten minutes as Fleetwood went looking for the equaliser, denying Grant Dell and Josh Frew, the latter was unmarked in the box and needed a good stop.

Celtic signed two more this week, midfielder Jack Rea joins from Chester and defender Laquan Esdaille who joins from Oldham. There are more signings expected this week, with an aim to also bring in some players on season long loans from league clubs.

Celtic's new kit was also launched this week, and is available in the club shop on match days for £35. Or £30 for SA members, membership costs £5 so buying a shirt after membership costs the same as a shirt alone.

Finally, there is a meet the manager on Tuesday, where the new signings may be announced.

Results for the last two games:
Sat, 7th August Fleetwood Town (Friendly) Home 1 - 0 Marsh
Tue, 3rd August Witton Albion (Friendly) Away 1 - 1 Banim

Next 10 games:
Sat, 14th August Redditch United Home
Tue, 17th August Blyth Spartans Away
Sat, 21st August Hinckley United Away
Tue, 24th August Vauxhall Motors Home
Sat, 28th August Nuneaton Town Away
Mon, 30th August Harrogate Town Home
Sat, 4th September Gainsborough Trinity Home
Sat, 11th September Stafford Rangers Away
Sat, 18th September Solihull Moors Away
Tue, 21st September Nantwich Town Away First Round