In a game in which Celtic looked like the only team likely to score, and with all the results going Celtic’s way, it was Avro that leapt to second in place of Celtic.

Two early free kicks allowed Benni Smales-Braithwaite to set his range, the first wide, the second seeing Cam Mason make a straightforward catch, while Liam Tongue missed by inches with a precision shot toward the bottom corner, Ruben Jerome volleyed Mike Koral’s cross, but the shot sailed the wrong side of the post. Smales-Braithwaite came the closest in the half when Avro threw bodies in the way of a crowded box, and Jack Kenny had to block on the line as Smales-Braithwaite tried to prod home. Chiekh Thiam went the closest for the home side in their rare forays forward, both times on target, the second of which required a quick thinking save from Charlie Monks as the wind threatened to swirl the ball into the back of the net. With stoppage time approaching, Smales-Braithwaite forced Mason into a decent stop and Tongue couldn’t keep his effort on target after a half-cleared free kick fell nicely for him.

The second half turned into a war of attrition, with Smales-Braithwaite getting close, but denied by Mason. It took half an hour for either side to muster up a shot worthy of the name, Tunde Owolabi’s inch perfect cross met by the diving head of Brandon Newell who could have given Celtic the three points, but for the save of the match from Mason. Deep into stoppage time, it all went wrong for Celtic. A full stretch save from Monks to deny Ryley Smith’s angled effort went for a corner. As Sam Davidson’s corner came in, Monks caught, but was adjudged to have stepped across the line, with considerable help, but the goal stood and Celtic had no time to grab a deserved equaliser.

A freak goal, but they all count.