Stalybridge Celtic News

Date published: 27 August 2010

First up! Blyth Spartans away on a Tuesday night. It was the first real test of Harvey’s new team, and the responded magnificently. Two minutes into the game, and a Connor Jennings cross found Craig Hobson in the box, and Celtic were ahead in super quick time.

However, Blyth are a good team, and they responded quickly and effectively, Calvin Smith going close before Jan Budtz made a superb reaction save from Michael Tait only for Tait to get the ball right back, lift it to Robbie Dale who had a simple nod in to equalise.

Just before half-time Celtic had restored the lead, Craig Hobson freeing Phil Marsh to go one-on-one with Sam Grieveson and he coolly slotted it past the Spartan’s Keeper. Celtic played Blyth out of the game in the second half, keeping possession well, and almost adding to the score-line with Marsh heading a Glen Rule cross at the keeper, Jody Banim curling wide and Lee Elam jinking into the box, only to slide his shot the wrong side of the post.

Next game was Hinckley, and Celtic were full of confidence, and the start of the game suggested that this confidence would translate into another win. Jody Banim opened the scoring early in the first half, nut megging his marker, bursting between two defenders and smashing the ball past Dan Haystead into the top corner from an impossible angle.

Hinckley were chasing shadows as Celtic produced some sublime football, the best of which culminated in Glen Rule’s cross met by a superb volley from Connor Jennings that required an equally superb save from Haystead.

The second half saw Celtic continue this form, and close range passing just outside the Hinckley box was finished with Phil Marsh erupting into the box and firing low past Haystead to put Celtic two up and comfortable. Twenty minutes of madness ensued. It started with a corner. Connor Franklin was unmarked at the back post, and he nodded home, before Gary King was the lucky recipient as Celtic provided comedy defending.

Laquan Esdaille was harshly adjudged to have fouled by James Reid. Reid took the 30 yard free kick, and it was nothing special, but after a deflection ended up in the back of the net. Andre Gray forced Budtz into a good stop, and Gary King picked up the parry to smash home, before King’s shot was parried and Gavin Strachan picked up the parry and gave Hinckley an astounding five goals in 24 minutes.

Then it was back playing at home on Tuesday night, and Celtic looked to bounce back against Vauxhall Motors. Yet again Celtic looked awesome in the first half, with Vauxhall getting nothing in the way of a chance, whilst Greg Wilkinson had two excellent efforts sail just over, whilst Connor Jennings went agonisingly close with a volley, and Laquan Esdaille’s cheeky flick from a corner was inches wide.

Phil Marsh was on target, but Scott Tynan made the save by accident more than intent. Just before the interval and Jody Banim was tripped in the box, however, Tynan made a super stop only to have to do it again a minute later when Rob Marsh-Evans handled the ball in the box. Banim went the opposite way and scored, only for encroaching to mean it had to be retaken. Bluff or double bluff as Banim and Tynan squared up, and Banim’s double bluff paid off to put Celtic into the lead.

At the start of the second half though, everything fell to pieces after Laquan Esdaille slid in to block a low Neil Prince cross, only to knock it past Jan Budtz. Budtz was suddenly the busiest keeper as Vauxhall sensed Celtic heads drop. Josh Wilson forced Budtz into a superb one-on-one save, before Obi Anouro took advantage of a Kristian Platt slip to beat Budtz at the near post.

Celtic went looking for an equaliser and got their passing game together, and one touch passing sliced Vauxall open, Phil Marsh ending a series of passes with a back heel into Lee Elam’s path only for the winger to put the ball the wrong side of the post. However, the hunt left the back line exposed, and Josh Wilson raced into an empty field from a Celtic corner, and this time didn’t wait for Budtz to close him down, smashing it in from the edge of the box.

Just before the end, Vauxhall rubbed salt in the wound when Anouro beat Graeme Law and pulled the ball back past Budtz for Neil Prince to put into the empty net.

As a result that meant six from the opening twelve games, and Celtic are back in the midlands on Saturday to face freshly promoted Nuneaton Town, before facing reinvigorated Harrogate at home on Monday, neither game will be easy, and Celtic need to bounce back and get the results their football deserves.

On the player front, John Hardiker has been sold to Droylsden for an acceptable fee. Reports are that Celtic, have used the freed up wage to bring in Ryan Crowther, an ex-Liverpool youngster whom the Premiership giants bought from Stockport County. An attacking winger or forward, he is 21.

Results for the last two games:
Date Opposition H/A Result Scorers
Tue, 24th August Vauxhall Motors Home 1 - 4 Banim
Sat, 21st August Hinckley United Away 2 - 5 Banim, Marsh

Next 10 games:
Date Opposition H/A Notes
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
Sat, 16th October Boston United Away
Sat, 23rd October Droylsden Home
Sat, 30th October AFC Telford Home