Match Report -
Territorial advantage, but no goals
By Iain Benson

Despite the lion-share of the possession, Celtic could not convert territorial advantage into goals, allowing Vauxhall to convert from a set-piece.

The result of the game was of great importance for both teams. For Celtic to stay in the play offs and for Vauxhall to climb out of the bottom three.

After a double figure passing movement, Steve Brogan got the opening chance of the game, firing over from the edge of the box, a move that was repeated some minutes later when his shot flew an inch over the bar, and into the ladies toilets. Seconds later and Phil Marsh got clear to also fire over the bar when it looked easier to score, his shot going into the gents. Scott Tynan stood up strongly against Marsh moments later when the Celtic striker wriggled free from Lee Dames, Tynan pushing the ball out for a corner. David Mannix put a free kick straight down Jan Budtz's throat, with Vauxhall left picking up chances from set-pieces.

The second half started like a house on fire, but fizzled out after Motors scored. Greg Wilkinson unleashing a thunderbolt that grazed the post, and at the other end, a head back across goal from Josh Wilson was superbly saved by the foot of Budtz from Kevin Holsgrove. Vauxhall put a lot of pressure on the Celtic goal, Mattie Burke forcing Budtz into another fine stop, pushing the effort around the post for a corner. Celtic didn't clear the corner, and Tom Hannigan nodded it back across the face for Josh Wilson to head in the only goal of the game.

Mitchell Austin, brought on for Arthur Gnahoua, had a run and shoot, trading passes with Brogan on route, but went wide, whilst Tynan had to clasp Marsh's diagonal effort at the second attempt as Celtic looked to get back into a game they should never have been out of. Vauxhall defended in depth and numbers, allowing Celtic no way through, it took twenty minutes for Celtic to eventually break down the defence and Wilkinson have enough space for a shot, but Tynan did enough, and moments later Steve Brogan cut through but fired into the side netting. As time ran out, a run and shot from Austin fired across the face and out summed up Celtic's performance.

1Tynan, Scott  
2Fearnehough, Danny  
3Dames, LeeYellow Card 
4Hannigan, Tom  
5Jones, Paul  
6Burke, MattieYellow Card 
7Mahob, Craig  
8Mannix, David  
9Parkinson, Dan  
10Wilson, Josh  
11Holsgrove, Kevin  
12Egerton, Jonathon  
14Wynne, Liam  
15Ogden, Matt  
16Martindale, Gary  
17Spotswood, Gary