Match Report -
Celtic Motor Through
By Iain Benson

Celtic progressed to the next round of the FA Cup in a game that saw untaken chances at both ends, but the one chance taken was enough to Celtic go through.

Celtic could have taken the lead inside the first minute when Greg Wilkinson took a wicked effort that was blocked on route to goal by the sliding form of Andy Nichols. The loose ball fell to Jack Laird but he had to snatch at his shot with Zac Jones bearing down, firing wide. Chances were falling at both ends, with Tom Rutter firing at Alex Cairns before both teams had shots cleared off the line, Austin's low drive blocked by Tom Hannigan, and Mike Burns seeing Mark Lees hack his lofted effort over Alex Cairns off the line.

Chances continued to fall thick and fast, especially for Celtic, with Jamie Mullan's good effort well stopped, and Adam Pepper's great curling effort smacking the crossbar. Tom Rutter curled a free kick straight at Cairns and Craig Mahon fired into the side netting after being pushed ever further wide by Joel Bembo-Leta. Jamie Mullan and David Thompson both came close, whilst several efforts were put wide, including a header from Hannigan from a corner.

The second half had to see a goal, with the chances created, and it came from some slick one touch pass and move from Celtic, culminating with Mitchell Austin nutmegging Lee Dames, cutting inside, and squaring the ball to Corey Gregory, who cleverly lifted the ball past Jones to fire in the only goal of the game.

Celtic very effectively closed the game out after this, frustrating Vauxhall, and though Alex Cairns had to be substituted after Carl Noone cynically led with his shoulder while Cairns was in the air, giving the Celtic keeper a dead leg, the Celtic defence protected Ashley Woodhouse, Cairns's replacement, admirably. The remaining chances fell to Celtic, but they were unable to capitalise, although Jamie Mullan's effort was good, so was the save. Mitchell Austin also forced Jones into a good stop, and Callum Warburton's wicked and cheeky free kick hit the woodwork meaning it was the narrowest of wins for Celtic. But the number of goals don't count in the FA Cup, wins do.

1Jones, Zac  
2Wainwright, Steve  > 63
3Dames, Lee  
4Hannigan, Tom  > 78
5Nicholas, Andy  
6Clowes, Leon  
7Mahon, Craig  
8Noone, Chris  
9Rutter, Tom  > 53
10Burns, MikeYellow Card 
11Thmopson, David  
12Egerton, Jonathon  < 53
14Thelwell, Simon  < 78
15Clair, Karl  
16Moss, Louis  < 63
17Martindale, Gary  
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