Match Report -
Celtic Lose Away At South Shields
By Six Yard Sam

A sucker punch meant that after going ahead twice, Celtic came away from Mariner's Park with nothing to show for their hard work.

Gavin Cogden showed intent for the home side getting onto a cross, but Jake Turner was up to the header, however, it was Celtic that took the lead when Scott Bakkor's wrestled the ball from Jon Adams and squaring for Neil Kengni to fire under Liam Connell. Both Jack Taylor and Matty Wolfenden could have given Celtic a two goal cushion, Taylor heading a corner wide and Wolfenden bringing a cross down on his chest before volleying twenty-five yards just the wrong side of the post.

Celtic showed a great deal of naivety after conceding a free kick just outside the box. When Celtic started organising for a set piece, it was taken quickly, Lee Mason getting the equaliser whilst Celtic could only watch leaving the two sides level at the break.

Right from the start of the second half, Celtic took the lead through Neil Kengni, a good turn of pace and lifting his shot over Connell and into the back of the net off the crossbar.

South Shields had a one hundred percent home record at stake and were looking dangerous. Turner had to be alert to deny Mason after the South Shields winger burst past Taylor and fired in a low shot. South Shields augured a goal when Josh Gillies came on and with his first touch put the ball in the net, only to be ruled offside. However, Mason wasn't offside when he did the exact same thing to equalise for the hosts.

Greg Wilkinson nearly restored Celtic's lead with his driving run and near post shot, the loose ball came to Bakkor who headed it goalward, only for Blair Adams to head from under his own crossbar off the line. Wilkinson went again forcing Connell into a cracking stop with his legs and right before the ninetieth minute, Connell was there again to tip over a close-range header from Kengni, an inch away from giving Celtic the three points

Instead, it was South Shields that took the points when a cross from Josh Gillies turned into a wind-assisted shot dropping in front of Turner and bouncing into the back of the net. It was a freak goal as though the wind was helping South Shields maintain the hundred percent win record.

1Connell, Liam  
2Baxter, Craig  
3Adams, Blair  
4Shaw, Jon  
5Morse, Dillon  
6Turnbull, Phil  
7Cogden, Gavin  > 59
8Briggs, Robert  
9Mason, Lee  > 90
10Finnigan, CarlYellow Card 
11Lowe, Nathan  > 73
12Brown, Gary  < 90
14Lough, Darren  
15Mouanda, Ursene  
16Gillies, Josh  < 59
17Foley, David  < 73