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Barlow provides Celtic with an ideal warm-up

26/ 9/2007

Stalybridge Celtic.......2
Hinckley Utd...............1

THE Celts tuned up for their FA Cup clash with Hyde United by efficiently disposing of lowly Hinckley.

Despite never hitting the heights, they were effective and clinical throughout with Ashley Winn showing signs of a welcome return to form in midfield and Simon Garner very impressive in a steady showing by a back four in which Barrie Keeling did not look out of place at right back.

There were glimpses too of the old Lee Ellington up front, although he was guilty of fluffing two chances that would have given the scoreline a truer look.

He looks to be warming to the task of playing up front with Chris Hall, who once again impressed with his willingness to take a physical battering and come back for more.

Steve Burr gave a debut to on-loan Gareth Davies who anchored a disciplined performance by a midfield that has come in for criticism of late.

Celtic took the lead on 18 minutes and the goal was a beauty as Hall did well on the right and laid a peach of a ball into Winn 20 yards out.

He hit it on the run and keeper Sean Bowles was helpless in the Hinckley goal as it crashed in off the underside of the bar.

The visitors gained a foothold in the game right on half-time when skipper Mark Haran blotted an otherwise faultless display by handling in a goalmouth melee to concede Celtic's fifth penalty of the campaign.

Keeper Paddy Gamble, again efficient in everything he was called upon to do, guessed incorrectly and Colin Marrison's spot kick brought the scores level.

It took the Celts just three minutes of the second half to rightfully restore their lead. Hall, Winn and Ellington all had efforts blocked before Matty Barlow arrived to lash home what proved to be the winner from eight yards out.

Referee Norris waved away two what looked to be legitimate penalty claims and Winn twice tested Bowles with rasping drives as the Celts looked for the insurance goal that simply would not come.

It was perhaps inevitable then that the home defence had to endure some anxious moments as the clock ticked down.
The closest United came to what would have been an undeserved equaliser came in injury time when a Tom Birch drive scraped the bar on its way over.

Attendance: 395

by Keith Trudgeon