Stalybridge Celtic latest games

Date published: 02 September 2010

Stalybridge Celtic suffered two disappointing games this week, for different reasons.

Against Nuneaton on Saturday Celtic kept it tight at the back, which led to few chances for either side. Losing Jody Banim to a hamstring injury and then Phil Marsh to what was suspected at the time as a broken arm, but was badly bruised and battered, fortunately.

Almost immediately after the injury inflicted on Marsh, a poor back pass from Tim Ryan let Marsden run into an empty field with Moore for a partner, as Budtz came the ball was squared, and Moore tapped in.

Although Marsh's replacement, Ryan Crowther (more later), fired in, it lacked the power to trouble Alcock. When Ryan hauled Moore back on route to goal, Storer took the unstoppable free kick and put Nuneaton 2-0 up.

With only Connor Jennings as a recognised striker on the pitch, he did not disappoint, taking Greg Wilkinson's lofted ball on his chest, turning and shooting past Alcock.

Nuneaton had rarely threatened, and that continued. However, apart from Callum Warburton pulling back for Greg Wilkinson to screw wide, the game ran out of steam and finished 2-1.

Celtic have signed two new midfielders this week, Ryan Crowther who came on against Nuneaton, is Stockport county's youngest ever captain, and was bought by Liverpool. Though he was a regular in the reserves, he was let go by mutual consent.

The other is Eddie Stanford, who played for the Coventry first team, before playing in Poland. He returned to England, and was last playing for Curzon Ashton.

Both made home debuts against Harrogate Town on Bank Holiday Monday. Discounting the penalty, Harrogate had one other shot that missed.

The traffic was all one way. Early in the first half, Lloyd Ellams hit the woodwork and any of several free kicks around the box could have gone in.

Phil Marsh went agonisingly close after holding off the defence, but the ball rolled the wrong side of the post, and Dootson saved well from Marsh a few moments later, whilst Ellams curled a loose clearance into Dootson's arms.

Harrogate Town wasted their only chance of the match at the end of the first half when Toner headed a cross wide when clean through.

Second half it was still only Celtic having the chances, at times playing too much football.

Connor Jennings forced Dootson into punching a low shot round the post, and Lee Elam's shot was blocked on route to goal, with Jennings’s header was over the bar off the second corner.

It looked for all the world like Celtic would go on and win or at least get a goalless draw when a long ball was chased by Hardy, and Budtz had to race out, but he flattened Hardy and Graeme Armstrong converted the spot kick.

Celtic did have a good penalty shout of their own turned down, whilst Crowther and Stanford both coming in from the wings had efforts that weren't far away. However, Celtic could not convert their dominance into goals, and the game finished 0-1.

Results for the last two games:

Date Opposition H/A Result Scorers
Mon, 30th August Harrogate Town Home 0 - 1
Sat, 28th August Nuneaton Town Away 1 - 2 Jennings

Next 10 games:

Date Opposition H/A Notes
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
Sat, 6th November Workington Away
Tue, 9th November Ilkeston Town Home