Celtic’s play-off hopes are not over… yet, but they could be when Congleton and Chasetown play tomorrow.

Vauxhall only needed a point to secure a play-off spot and tried to keep Celtic out by fair means or foul. Even so, Celtic worked some glorious chances, with Liam Tongue twice going close, forcing an early save and placing his shot the wrong side of the post, whilst Lewis Rawsthorn did all the hard work to get one-on-one, but fired wide. Jack Irlam also had two great chances at the half-hour mark but put both wide. Profligacy cost Celtic when Vauxhall lofted in a corner, Josh Quarless headed it back into the mix and Kevin Ellison nodded in the opener, with the Celtic defence at sixes and sevens. Twice Celtic nearly equalised before the interval, with Benni Smales-Braithwaite cracking in an effort as Tongue’s shot was only parried by Alex Swindell, but couldn’t curl it far enough, and when Kyle Brownhill tried his luck from an acute angle, it needed an athletic save from Swindell to keep Vauxhall’s narrow lead at the break.

Celtic had a let off early doors of the second half with a double save from Charlie Monks, denying first Ellison point-blank then Paddy Kay from distance. That allowed Celtic a foothold, and they took it, Javid Swaby-Neavin’s ball in flicked across the box by Lewis Rawsthorn to Irlam. No way through, he pulled it back for Tongue to rifle in the equaliser. Again, Monks kept Celtic in the hunt, when Ellison’s close range looping header required a full stretch save to tip the ball over the bar. After that, it was about Celtic looking for the winner to ensure their play-off hopes stayed alive. Rawsthorn went agonisingly close with a flicked header and one-on-one somehow steered the ball onto the post to go out, not in. Adam Rooney denied Joe Duckworth illegally, the last defender pulling Duckworth back, but only a yellow came. Smales-Braithwaite tried a low drive, but the wrong side of the post and right at the death, Irlam’s header produced a great save from Swindell to put Motors into the play-offs and leave Celtic with only straws to clutch.

Congleton play at home to Runcorn and Chasetown are away at Witton, if both Congleton and Chasetown win, Celtic’s season run-in play-off chase is over.