Match Report -
Celtic Lose At Home To Shaw Lane
By Debbie Taylor

Over the ninety minutes, Celtic were arguably the stronger team, but Shaw Lane were excellent on the counter-attack, and it was from one such counter that the game swung.

After Spencer Harris had headed a free kick into the side netting, Celtic passed the ball well looking vastly improved on the Marine game mid-week. Greg Wilkinson was the first to test Jon Stewart, and Jon Stewart was up to the task, pushing the shot out for a corner. Shaw Lane defended deep and soaked up all the pressure Celtic applied, several times breaking on the counter attack, but it was from set pieces that the visitors got closest in the first half, Ryan Qualter firing straight at Joe Slinn and Joel Bembo-Leta heading into the side netting both from free kicks.

The second half saw a similar pattern of play, but Celtic were getting more chances from their play. Aaron Burns latched into ee Neville's ball and fired a powerful drive from an acute angle forcing an excellent save from Stewart. Adam Jones's header from a corner was only narrowly over the bar, while Jake Charles rode the challenges to get some space, but cleared the bar. New signing Sebastian Julien got to a Lee Neville cross, but nodded wide. Adam Jones was desperately unlucky, seeing his looping header over Stewart, only for Keelvin Lugsden to hack the ball clear off the line, the ball came back to Jones, and this time he again beat Stewart, but for the crossbar to deny him.

Celtic's lack of goals, three games now, told, when Nicky Walker raced down the field with the ball. Celtic looked like they?d manage to defend the break-away again, but Walker picked out David Norris, completely unmarked at the edge of the box, and he picked his spot in the top corner.

Alex Byrne had three morer chances to make the game safe as Celtic went desperately looking for an equaliser. Joe Slinn pulled off a great stop, pushing the ball out for a corner, and Byrne was profligate, leaving the score one-nil.

Celtic need to get out of the slump, and quickly, as this season rapidly turns into a mirror of last.

1Stewart, Jon  
2Bembo-Leta, Joel  
3Sergeant, Ryan  
4Lugsden, Kieran  
5Lugsden, KelvinYellow Card 
6Qualter, Ryan  
7Byrne, Alex  
8Harris, SpencerYellow Card 
9Clayton, Paul  
10Norris, DavidYellow Card > 88
11Walker, Nicky  > 90
12Chilaka, Chib  
14Reeves, Damien  
15Abadaki, Godwin  < 88
16Lenigan, Simon  
17Abadaki, Osebi  < 90
Match Sponsor
Rob Gorski
Ball Sponsor
MG Domestic
Man of the Match Sponsor
Steve Betteley
Programme Sponsor
Keith Norton