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Gareth Roberts handed Stalybridge Celtic debut at age of 40 in Cheshire Cup tie at Runcorn Linnets

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RUNCORN LINNETS 1, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 1

(Linnets won 5-4 on penalties)

Gareth Roberts is thought to have created history for Stalybridge Celtic in their Cheshire Cup, first-round defeat at Runcorn Linnets.

One month short of his 41st birthday, Celtic’s assistant manager is thought to be the club’s oldest debutant.

Roberts, who won nine full caps for Wales, was press ganged into action at left back as Celtic had three full backs ruled out through injury.

But the player, who counted Tranmere Rovers, Doncaster Rovers and Derby County among his former clubs, was still top drawer and one of the most polished performers on the pitch and was more of a wing back as he was continually attacking down the flank.

Sadly Roberts was on the losing side as injury-hit Celtic’s patched-up side made the cruellest of exits after conceding an equaliser with the last kick of the match and then bowing out on penalties.

Free-kick specialist Louis Corrigan struck the crossbar early on for Linnets, the closest there was to a goal in the opening period.

Celtic made the breakthrough nine minutes into the second period through a Scott Bakkor penalty after Neil Kengni was tripped.

They had chances to seal victory as Kengni and substitute Elisene Fernandes both shot over when clean through on goal.

They were to prove costly misses as Linnets drew level in the fourth and final minute of added time.

Linnets’ substitute Kurt Sherlock cut in from the left wing past Ollie Marx and fired a low shot into the far corner of the net.

Celtic went back for a restart only for the final whistle to blow as they were literally seconds away from victory against Linnets who are chasing promotion from Evo-Stik League, west division.

Celtic lost 5-4 in the shootout with only one of the 10 kicks missed – by midfielder Glenn Rule.

Manager Simon Haworth said: “It was disappointing to lose. We weren’t great, but got ahead and then had other good chances to win it.

“We had five or six players missing and you have to look at the result in the grand scheme of things

Celtic: Winterbottom, Brown (Power 65), Roberts, Dent, Marx, Clarke, Bakkor, Rule, Kengni (Fernandes 87), Wolfenden (Maielo 70), Wilkinson. Sub (not used): Tongue.

Stalybridge Celtic’s ‘incredible’ win as they dent Ashton United’s promotion push

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ASHTON UNITED 1, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 2

“INCREDIBLE” was the word assistant manager Alex Meecham used to describe Stalybridge Celtic’s win at Ashton United, a result that dented the hosts’ promotion bid in Evo Stik League, premier division, writes Tony Bugby.

It was Celtics’ fifth game in eight days and came 24 hours after nine of the team played the full 120 minutes at Nantwich Town where they lost 4-3 after extra time in their Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final.

Meecham said: “It was incredible, no other word can describe it.

“Some of the players didn’t get home from Nantwich until 2am and had to do a day’s work before playing again at Ashton.

“We lost in the cruellest way after extra time at Nantwich where we deserved to take the game to penalties.

“We had to pick up the lads and it was phenomenal what they did to win the game against adversity. We even had two players making their debuts having only previously college football.

“It was backs to the wall at times, but they deserved every word of praise as they made our supporters proud.”

Meechan was highly critical of the fixture schedule for April – 13 games in 26 days.

He said: “It is ridiculous and disgusting the way we have been treated by the league.

“I thought the Cheshire FA would have also shown common sense by letting the cup tie go to penalties after 90 minutes.”

Loan player Harrison Holgate was ruled out as parent-club Fleetwood Town would not permit the teenager to play two games in 24 hours while Jack Taylor, from the reserves, was unavailable.

Ashton took the lead midway through the opening period when left-back Lewis Baines headed home  a corner from the tightest of angles.

Jack Dyche struck an upright and Nic Evangelinos fired wide when clean through as Celtic lived dangerously and were lucky to be only 1-0 down at the break.

Celtic’s loan keeper George Sykes-Kenworthy raced from his line to save bravely at the feet of Evangelinos as a second goal continued to elude Ashton.

Celtic drew level after 69 minutes when substitute Brice Pouamoun, an academy player, delivered a pinpoint cross from the right for Matty Wolfenden to head into the roof of the net.

And lifted by the goal, Celtic conjured a winner in the 86th minute when Jake Charles scored his eighth goal of the month.

Charles was sent clear by Josh Ramsden’s through ball and was initially denied by keeper David Carnell’s block but he was given a second bite of the cherry as he fired home the rebound.

Carnell damaged his hamstring attempting to keep the ball out and, with no keeper on the bench, centre-back Aaron Chalmers was forced to take the gloves.

The injury meant there was five added minutes and in the last one Celtic were indebted to Sykes-Kenworthy who made a brilliant save to deny Nicky Platt who was clean through on goal.

Stalybridge Celtic denied by injury-time equaliser from Hednesford Town

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STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 2, HEDNESFORD TOWN 2

STALYBRIDGE Celtic were left frustrated as an injury-time goal denied them victory against play-off chasing Hednesford Town.

Captain Tom Thorley struck in the 92nd minutes when Celtic looked to be heading for another important win in their battle to climb further away from danger in Evo Stik League, premier division.

Celtic trailed to a first-half goal from James Fitzgibbon goal and it looked as though it was not going to be their day until they staged a great, late fightback.

Two goals in three minutes from Matty Wolfenden brought Bower Fold to life as Celtic turned a deficit into a lead.

And after Hednesford made it 2-2, Celtic might still have snatched victory in the fourth and final minute of added time when Ross Killock headed agonisingly wide from Hughes’ corner.

Celtic manager Steve Burr, whose side has lost only once in eight league and cup games in 2018, said: “It was a game we should have won and we were the only side that wanted to win it.

“We could have had it done and dusted but for their keeper who was terrific.

“Once they got in front they set out to frustrate through spoiling and time wasting.

“When we got back into the game, we were vibrant, but probably needed a third goal.

“I think their equaliser went in off their player’s shin and even then we had a good chance to win it.”

Visiting keeper James Wren made three fine first-half saves to deny Connor Hughes and twice Jake Charles as Celtic did everything but find the net.

Celtic were caught on the counter seven minutes before the break when Fitzgibbon fired across the face of goal into the far corner.

The second half was scrappy and disjointed until Wolfenden struck after 79 minutes with a predator’s finish.

Liam Dickinson headed Hughes’ corner towards goal and Wolfenden fired home from inside the six-yard box.

And it got even better two minutes later when Hughes made a mesmeric run down the right before Charles provided the cross for Wolfenden to hammer high into the roof of the net from close range.

Hednesford made it 2-2 when Celtic failed to stop a cross from the left that was bundled home by Thorley from close range.

Even then, though, Killock had a chance to cover himself with glory but headed fractionally wide.

Celtic: alton, Morton, Honeyball, Brown (Crowley 70), Ashworth, Killock, Charles, Roberts (Wilkinson 77), Dickinson (Holgate 90+2), Wolfenden, Hughes. Subs (not used): Taylor, Winterbottom.

Stalybridge Celtic blow 2-0 interval lead at Buxton as lengthy wait for away win goes on

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BUXTON 2, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 2

Stalybridge Celtic’s lengthy wait for a first away victory of the season goes on after they threw away a two-goal lead at Buxton.

“It feels like a loss after we were so much on top in the game,” explained Celtic manager Steve Burr.

“If we continue to give that effort and commitment, and show that ability, we won’t go far wrong. It is fine lines,” he continued.

Celtic collected only a second point from a possible 33 on their travels in Evo Stik League, premier division.

However, it is 63 weeks and counting since they last won away on a Saturday – that was at Bradford Park Avenue on October 29, 2016.

And since then they have managed only one away win midweek at Altrincham on April 4, 2017.

Celtic could have been 2-0 down or 1-0 ahead before they took the lead in the 25th minute.

Buxton’s Liam Hardy fired narrowly wide after breaking clear while Brad Grayson’s chip hit the bar.

Celtics’ Theo Bailey-Jones also missed a sitter before Liam Dickinson headed home a Sam Sheridan floated cross from 10 yards.

It got even better when they went 2-0 ahead eight minutes before the break when Jordan Chapell slotted home Dickinson’s cross, his 12th goal of the season.

Celtic had chances to add a third early in the second half, notably when Chapell’s shot was saved by Will Jasskelainen and follow-up efforts from Bailey-Jones and Connor Hughes were cleared off the goalline.

What could have been 3-0 became 2-1 moments later when centre half Jack Broadhead bundled in a Joe McGee corner at the far post.

And Celtic conceded a second after 75 minutes when Buxton substitute Ryan McDermott, on his full debut, slotted in a shot after the visitors were caught out again failing to clear their defensive lines.

Celtic had chances to snatch victory as in the last nine minutes substitutes Oli Roberts and Tom Brown, along with Hughes, all went close as the game ended all square.