"Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be, will be" was the chant from the Celtic following that packed the main stand at the Millbank Linnets Stadium as they watched their side progress through to the next round of the of the FA Youth Cup against the undefeated Runcorn Linnets.
This game was a measure of how far this group of lads have come. This is a team who are maturing into their years and it is the spirit and maturity shown in this game to overcome such a strategy which will have impressed their dedicated Coaching team.
Stalybridge were well deserved of their victory and effectively won the game in the first-half with headed goals from SMITH and MIKUNA, both benefactors of the inspired form of Craig McKAY. On 20 minutes McKAY spotted McNAMARA on the right who pointed to where he wanted the ball from the free kick on the half-way line. Upon receipt McNAMARA turned his marker and crossed for QUINLAN who forced The Linnets Goal-keeper into a smart save to concede a corner. QUINLAN himself took the resulting Corner and his ball into the area found MIKUNA unmarked to power home for his first goal in Blue colours.
The second goal of the game for Celtic came straight from the training ground, and crucially on the stroke of half-time. Bridge won a free-kick 35 yards from goal on the right. McKAY delivered once again and this time into the penalty-area. His ball, exquisite, out-witted The Linnets Goal-keeper and defenders and could have been met by any one of the four Celtic players who surged towards goal. SMITH was the player who rose the highest and his glancing header flew into the bottom corner of the Runcorn goal to give Celtic a two goal cushion going into the break.
Runcorn emerged from the break resurgent and immediately got back into the game on 48 minutes. SMITH was adjudged by the referee of bundling over The Linnets forward who had no hesitation in awarding Runcorn the chance to reduce the arrears from 12-yards. The Runcorn forward made no mistake from the spot firing down the middle of the goal and past WINDLE to make the score 2-1.
Bridge nearly restored their two goal advantage minutes later following a foul by Runcorn at the other end. MORGAN delivered a free-kick from the left and his floated ball into the box averted everyone including the Runcorn Keeper and hit the upright. Unfortunately the ball bounced the wrong side of the line for Bridge to the agony of the fantastic Celtic support in the main stand. Celtic managed to weather Runcorn's brief second-half spell and began to regain control of the match.
Second-half Substitute LEECH could have made sure of the victory following a mistake at the Runcorn back-line. LEECH pounced but could only flash his shot wide of the target. Substitute MORIBA KPOLIGON and LEECH then combined as they did in the latter stages of the last round from the bench together. KPOLIGON won the ball in his own half before skipping past some Runcorn challenges. The forward then played a one-two with LEECH who released KPOLIGON through on goal. This time his shot was well saved by the legs of the Goal-keeper to keep his side in the tie.
In the end Runcorn didn't show enough class to match their fight and it was Celtic who boxed the smarter with first year players GRANT and MASSEY coming through a tough encounter with flying colours to help the team to set up a 4th Round tie at home to Conference side Chester FC in the next round.
Full Time: 1-2
MARCHING ON TOGETHER
Stalybridge Celtic Goals: MIKUNA 20, SMITH 45.
Celtic Team: Anthony Windle (gk), Craig McKay, Louis Smith (c), Danny Mikuna, Johnny Morgan, Anthony Quinlan (Moriba Kpoligon 62), Declan McNamara (Aaron Fleming 90), Sam Cunliffe, Josh Logan, Connor Grant, Adam Massey (Jordan Leech 58).
Subs not used: Callum Hill (gk), Cameron McKenzie
