Stalybridge Celtic

Date published: 09 September 2010

It was one in and one out at Celtic this week. Going is Jody Banim who gave full time football a go, but found it hard going, and so asked to leave. With Droylsden already having put in seven days notice for him, it is expected he will hook back up with his former club in the next couple of days.

Coming in, is Dennis Sheriff. Dennis has been something of a goal machine. He came through the youth ranks at Rochdale, even making the bench for a Carling cup game, but was the top scorer for the reserves in 2009, before joining Woodley Sports last season. He continued to find the net, notching over forty goals last season for them.

On Saturday, Celtic faced Gainsborough, who were fresh from sticking five past Ilkeston Town, and quite a handy outfit. However, Celtic seem to have put their recent results behind them. They played the same football as in the previous games, but whereas everything went against Celtic previously, this time Celtic go the result their play deserved with a great 2-0 win.

Phil Marsh opened the scoring on the quarter of an hour after Lloyd Ellams shot was blocked on route to goal falling close enough to Marsh to roll past Phil Barnes. A similar move saw Barnes pull off a near post save from Marsh before Ellams saw his half volley off a Connor Jennings cross well saved by Barnes. Lee Elam burst into the box, but a late challenge from Leon Hibbert saw Elam crash to the floor.

Marsh stepped up and confidently sent Barnes the wrong way from the spot. Barnes pulled off a trio of saves as the half closed to keep Trinity in with a sniff of a chance, denying a cracking rising drive from Ellams, a one-on-one with Marsh and Ellams edge of the shot low drive. The second half was going to be tough with Trinity knowing what they had to do. Leon Mettam had an excellent chance after he was released by a defence unlocking ball from Jefferson Louis, but Jan Budtz was still awake and pulled off a smart stop. Mettam and Louis both wasted glorious opportunities from set pieces.

At the other end, Connor Jennings chased down a loose ball, and Paul Mayo looked to have taken the ball cleanly in the box, but it was seen differently by the assistant. Some might say justice was done when Marsh's second penalty of the game was palmed away by Barnes, and then put out for a corner from Marsh's follow up shot.

Greg Wilkinson fired the short corner routine, but Barnes was well placed. Although Trinity pressed for the last ten minutes, the Celtic back line left them with nothing to go at, leaving Celtic with three points and a clean sheet.

Results for the last two games:

Sat, 4th September Gainsborough Trinity Home 2 - 0 Marsh(2)
Mon, 30th August Harrogate Town Home 0 - 1

Next 10 games: 
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
Sat, 13th November Guiseley Away