Match Report -
Celtic take the point
By Iain Benson
A massive improvement in Celtic's performance allowed them to bounce back from the 5-1 away defeat at Corby to take a point at home to Northwich.

Celtic started like a house on fire, and the Vics couldn't contain them, Connor Jennings testing Curtis Aspden early on, tipping the low drive round for a corner that saw Steve Woods sneak in on and volley wide. Moments later and it was Jody Banim testing Aspden with an angled shot. Northwich failed to deal with a free kick into the box, and it eventually fell to Jennings again, but his shot lacked the power to beat Aspden, whilst Matty Barlow should have done better when he was clear through onto a corner, but flicked his header wide.

A goal was coming and it was coming through Banim. Jennings was crudely tripped by Nat Kerr on the edge of the Vics box; Banim lifted the ball over the wall, Joe O'Neill ran onto it and forced a tremendous save from Aspden, the ball coming out to Matty Barlow who stooped and guided his header into the back of the net.

Mark Danks tried a quick response, but failed to truly test Dave Carnell, but Celtic looked classy and committed. Barlow could have added to his tally, but Aspden reacted well, and then pulled off an excellent stop to deny Michael Carr, whilst Jennings cut his shot too far, and Jody Banim's took a deflection from a defender. Northwich looked grateful for the half time whistle when it came.

The second half, with new instructions, Vics started well. Wayne Riley was handed the keys to Bower Fold as he picked up the ball in the middle of the park at the start of the second half, and ran unhindered into the Celtic box, before slipping the ball past Carnell, leaving the Celtic back line wondering how he?d done it.

That kicked off a spell of intense pressure from Northwich, Danks and Rileyboth going close, before Johnny Allan missed a virtual open net. Celtic worked hard and got back into the game, and Greg Wilkinson had a cracking effort tipped over at full stretch by Aspden, and after a one-two with O'Neill, Banim put his shot the wrong side of the post.

The game could have gone either way, but Northwich looked more interesting in stopping Celtic than getting a winner. They still had chances though, with Carnell stopping a distance effort from Danks, and substitute Harry Winter firing well wide from a corner. Their tactics worked, and they walked away with a point.

1Aspden, Curtis  
2Aspin, Mike  > 45
3Horrocks, Luke  > 81
4Kerr, NatYellow Card 
5Meadowcroft, DannyYellow Card 
6Clarke, Ryan  
7Riley, WayneRed Card 
8Connor, Michael  > 43
9Danks, Mark  
10Dutton, Brian  
11Vermiglio, Jamie  
12Allan, Johnny  < 43
14Brown, Junior  < 45
15Winter, Harry  < 81
16Broadhead, Ryan  
17Spencer, Jamie