Match Report -
Celtic pick up first clean sheet of the season away at Grantham
By Taran Dhamrait

Celtic made the long Tuesday night trip to Grantham in what is likely their last game for at least a month and were able to pick up a point in a goalless draw with Grantham Town at The South Keseven Stadium.

Neither side could find the breakthrough with Jon Ustabasi coming closest for Celtic, striking the post during the first half.

The first half was probably the better half for Celtic whose main chances came in the first 45. Stephen O’Halloran saw a header flash narrowly wide on eight minutes after a corner from Nic Evangelinos.

Ustabasi also went close, cutting inside from the left flank but his curling effort was just wide of the far post after 26 minutes.

Grantham were perhaps unlucky to not go ahead however Celtic must be praised for their excellent defending, where two shots in quick succession were cleared off the line by Celtic’s defence with debutant Grant Shenton saving the third shot as Celtic survived what looked to be a certain Grantham goal.

It was Celtic’s turn to go close though with 10 minutes before the break. Charley Doyle saw a long-range effort blocked just outside the penalty area, the ball fell for Ustabasi who with the angle against him, still took aim and was desperately unlucky as his shot cannoned off the post and wide.

After the restart, Jordan Helliwell saw a shot parried by former Celtic keeper Jan Budtz and Ustabasi nearly found himself one on one with the keeper but a Grantham defender was able to make a last ditch recovering tackle.

O’Halloran and partner at the back Luke Barlow had to be alert throughout the rest of the game as Grantham threw the dangerous looking Remaye Campbell on however Celtic’s defence generally coped well as the team picked up their first clean sheet of the league season.

Shenton also made a couple of smart saves, one a diving save down to his right to claim a header as Celtic introduced Kyle Hawley to partner Lewis Salmon up-front.

There was to be no late drama as there was at Marine on Saturday and Celtic headed into lockdown with a well earned point and clean sheet.

1Budtz, Jan  
2Walker, Aidan  
3Turner, Ben  
4Hollingsworth, Michael  
5Ward, Tom  
6Holland, Ryan  
7Dyer, Nathan  
8Berrett, James  
9Worsfold, Ashley  
10Hardy, Liam  > 62
11Stobbs, Jack  > 69
12Campbell, Remaye  < 62
14Doran, Niall  < 69
15Taylor, Alistair  
16Kianga, Manesse  
17Biggs, Will