WARRINGTON TOWN 1, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 2
Stalybridge Cetic’s inconsistency remains consistent following their fabulous win at BetVictor Northern Premier League, premier division high-flyers Warrington Town.
It is difficult to fathom how Celtic could win so convincingly at Cantilever Park only four days after being beaten heavily at home by bottom-club Stafford Rangers who had been without a league win.
But after their latest success, Celtic have climbed into the top half of the table and are only two points shy of the play-off places.
Tony Whitehead for the suspended Nathan Valentine was the one change from midweek as manager Simon Haworth stayed loyal to his players and resisted the temptation to make sweeping changes.
“We are a tight-kit group and the players deserved another chance as Stafford was the only poor performance in the last seven or eight games,” said Haworth.
Celtic took a 10th minute lead on the break as Darius Osei released Berat ‘Jonathan’ Ushabasi who fired home a low shot across the face of goal.
Scott Bakkor went close and Dale Hobson headed against the bar as Celtic could have extended their lead by half-time.
Celtic goalkeeper Alex Fojicek only have two saves of note to make in the opening 45 minutes.
Haworth’s side continued to create the better chances in the second half as fans behind the goal were convinced Ross Dent’s header had crossed the line while Ustabasi was also denied by the frame of the goal.
The second goal Celtic deserved finally arrived in the 89th minute when substitute Neil Kengni raced on to a long punt out of defence to slot a shot low past former Celtic goalkeeoer Tony McMillan.
The only time Celtic were seriously troubled came in the five minutes of added time.
Town halved the deficit when Ben Garrity headed home an Alex Byrne cross.
Celtic were then indebted to centre half Stephen O’Halloran for a massively important 95th minute goalline clearance to keep out a shot from substitute Sheldon Jordan.
It would have been tough on Celtic to have slipped up because they had hardly been troubled defensively all afternoon by one of the division’s top teams.