Match Report -
Celtic win Celtic v Celtic round 2
By Iain Benson
Stalybridge Celtic progressed into the next round of the FA Cup with some style, seeing off fellow Celtic, Farsley with four goals without reply.

After an initial flurry that saw Celtic almost breach the backline of Farsley immediately, Williams's shot diverted by a leg for a corner, that Sykes headed goalward, only for Stabb to head off the line, and Sharpe to head back in, but over.

The game got bitty, and saw a flurry of yellow cards, Meynell and Krief for fouls, and Briggs for reacting to Kreif's heavy foul. From that foul, Celtic won a corner that eventually fell to Williams, and a thunderous shot was blocked on the post by Downes, for a second corner. Farsley struggled to get clear and Briggs brought the ball back in superbly knocking it past Jackson, who turned and brought Briggs down a yard inside the box. Although the assistant came over, he was waved away, and a free kick just outside the box was ordered.

Ellington took it, around the wall and into the unreachable top corner.

Briggs could have made it two with an excellent strike from the edge of the box, but Aspden parried well, the ball falling to Williams, but Krief got across well to block at the expense of a corner.

Farsley's first shot on target came just past the half hour mark, a free kick by Prendergast looped over the wall and into Phillips's arms. Celtic went on the counter, and Torpey was in full flight when Krief slid in and took Torpey's legs. The referee had no hesitation in showing the Farsley man a red card for his second bookable offence. Barlow nearly added insult to injury, but Jackson was back to make the block.

The second goal wasn't long in coming and it worth the entrance money on its own. A foul on Ellington, thirty five yards out. Aspden didn't bother with a wall, so Barwick fired it low hard and straight into the corner with a stunning strike.

Celtic seemed to be cutting Farsley open at will now, and a driven shot from Barlow was tipped over the bar by Aspden, before Torpey got the space he needed on the edge of the box for a left foot drive, and did not disappoint, making it three nil before half time.

The home Celtic's instructions appeared to have been to slow it down in the second half, whilst the away Celtic's were to go for it. That said, Williams got two bites at shots when first Briggs and then Barwick put him through, but both were lashed wide of the mark before he won a corner. Farsley didn't clear the corner, Santos slicing the ball into Downe's face and Barlow latching onto the ball to bundle it between Aspden's legs.

The goal rejuvenated Celtic who?d been content to pass the ball around and tire Farsley. A Smart screamer was well held, and Torpey's miss-hit from a tight angle struck the top of the frame, before a succession of chances went begging as Celtic adopted a shoot on sight policy, Torpey curled one wide, and Ellington nearly steered his shot towards goal, and Barwick had a go from twenty-five yards, but it was an inch the wrong side of the post.

An effort from Briggs would have been a wonder goal had it gone in, as he volleyed a clearance towards goal missing by a fraction of an inch. Smart was on target but a flying save from Aspden kept the score down.

With ten minutes to go, Phillips was called into action from Downes, pushed up and given a yard of space, but it wasn't a real test, as Phillips had been protected from the action by a solid back line.

There was a pause in the proceedings when the stretcher had to be brought on for Iqbal, who was suffering from dehydration, and had to be replaced.

Another flying save from the visiting keeper denied Torpey a stoppage time goal, and there was almost time for substitute for Farsley, James, to grab a consolation, but Phillips was having none of it, proving he was still awake.

Celtic were already slicing Farsley apart when Krief went off, after the red card there was only ever going to be one result, and Celtic looked dangerous up front and solid at the back: a match winning combination.

1Aspden, Curtis  
2Downes, Stephen  
3Stabb, Chris  > 45
4Knowles, James  > 60
5Jackson, Mark  
6Santos, Georges  
7Krief, DominicRed Card 
8Iqbal, Amjad  > 89
9Walshaw, James  
10Gardner, Scott  
11Prendergast, Rory  
12James, Matthew  < 45
14Penford, Tom  < 60
15Speight, Jake  
16Serrant, Ryan  < 89
17Backhouse, Chris  
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