Celtic had the lion’s share of chances, but left it late to secure an opening day three points against Stafford Rangers via a last minute Matty Bryan winner.

Apart from a tame shot in the opening exchange as Aaron Opuku fired straight into Charlie Monks’s arms, Stafford rarely threatened. Meanwhile, at the other end, they had let-off after let-off as Celtic failed to find the back of the net. Jack Irlam had three great chances, screwing one wide, sliding in and prodding a shot wide and connecting to a free kick to force Cam Belford into a decent stop. Belford was by far the busier of the two keepers, denying Jordan Butterworth’s header from close range and Matty Bryan who’d danced through the box. Jack Bannister outpaced Belford to a loose ball, but the angle was too tight for the hooked shot, hitting the side netting. How Celtic weren’t ahead at the interval flummoxed a lot of people.

James McQuilkin’s dismissal at the end of the first half led to a second half procession from Celtic, trying to find a way through, and convert when they did. Connor Hughes looked certain to score, getting into space at the edge of the box, but fired straight at Belford., whilst Jack Irlam latched onto Liam Tongue’s deep cross, only to divert into Belford’s arms when any other part of the goal would have put Celtic in front. Matty Bryan squeezed between four defenders, emerging with the ball with only Belford to beat, but the Stafford keeper stood his ground, forcing Bryan to shoot narrowly wide of the target. Aaron Chalmers fired in a rocket from thirty yards after a half-cleared corner, but Belford made the stop with stoppage time looming.

It looked set for Stafford to earn an unlikely draw, until substitute Jordan Burton found fellow sub, Moses Masaba. Masaba outpaced Sean Lawton and fired in a low cross into a crowded box. Matty Bryan still had the legs to burst from the crowd and divert the ball past a despairing Belford and hand Celtic the points. After knocking on the door for ninety minutes, Matty Bryan eventually gave the crowd something to cheer.