Celtic have got off to a comfortable win against a much improved Redditch side

Date published: 16 August 2010

The season has started, and Celtic has got off to a comfortable win against a much improved Redditch side from recent years.

Any thoughts that the youngsters brought in would not be up to Conference North standard were well and truly dispelled. Laquan Esdaille and Kristian Platt dealt with the early attacks from Redditch, before Celtic played it past Redditch who was left chasing shadows. After a foul on Jody Banim, Banim floated the free kick in, Esdaille reached it at the back post heading it back into play, for Kristian Platt to nod goal wards only for the crossbar to deny him, the rebound came to Phil Marsh and he opened his and Celtic's account for the season with a headed goal over and around the massed defenders on the Redditch line. 

Banim was brought down in the box for an obvious penalty, which he converted himself to put Celtic two to the good, and cruising.

Jake Meridith did superbly well to deny first Phil Marsh, then immediately Craig Hobson at point blank to stop Celtic running riot, also denying Connor Jennings.

The second half was even more comfortable for Celtic, with Redditch never looking like they would get back into it, Jennings could have added one when through on goal, but the presence of two defenders and a good stop as he tried to poke the ball under Meredith kept the score down.

The performance was marred by an uncharacteristic kick from Hobson, which may have been through an earlier incident from Jordan Fitzpatrick that had gone unpunished. Apart from a forty-yard effort from Josh Quaynor and a glaring miss at the back post by Marco Adaggio, Redditch never threatened.

Celtic completed their signings in the week, with Graeme Law and Steve Woods signing on for another season, while left back Andy McWilliams joins on a season long loan from York City, and the experienced Lee Elam has signed on too, as has Rochdale youngster right back Callum Warburton.

Others signed were four goalkeepers to supplement Will Jones, who had already signed: Keiran Gonzalez, whose international clearance is complicated by dual nationality and his playing in Australia last season; Aaron Ratchford, who has a slight injury, comes from Harrogate Town, and Ben Saynor who has played most of pre-season,

Also signed was Jan Budtz, the Danish shot-stopper who has played for Hartlepool and Doncaster (he saved 2 penalties in a Carling cup game against Manchester City, to put Doncaster through). Five keepers are unsustainable, and it looks like Saynor and Jones have gone.

Results for the last two games:
Date Opposition H/A Result Scorers
Sat, 14th August Redditch United Home 2 - 0 Marsh, Banim
Sat, 7th August Fleetwood Town (Friendly) Home 1 - 0 Marsh

Next 10 games:
Date Opposition H/A Notes
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
Sat, 2nd October Alfreton Town Home