Both teams were weakened, with a number of Celtic's mainstays missing, and Worksop also fielding fringe players. In addition, neither team desperately wanted to add yet another fixture to a congested calendar, so it could be said that Celtic tried hard, but just couldn't shake that winning feeling.
Worksop had the early pressure, and Wharton was harshly adjudged to have impeded Dudgeon. The free kick was floated into the box and Robinson had to be on his toes to tip Cleary's header around for a corner. Celtic defended stoutly, and after blocking a shot, Keeling was shoved. Moments later, Keeling clumsily bundled over Cleary, but Hansen's free kick was poor, striking the wall, and cleared. Ex-Celtic winger Norton, won a corner out of the make shift right back, Bowker, which Celtic cleared, only for Norton to win another out of Keeling this time. Again Celtic cleared, but the pressure was kept on as Wharton fouled Cleary. The free kick was taken quickly by Hansen, but struck the still organising wall and went for a corner. Hansen got his head on the ball, and Robinson again made a good stop, catching at the second attempt. Celtic were patient in their build up, and when it came, Ben Smith was unlucky. He took the ball to the by-line, pulled it back for Parr, who had his shot blocked, but the ball fell back to Ben Smith, off balance, his shot was wide. Wharton tried from the other side, pulling the ball between Hayward and Denham running in, and it took a touch from Norton to put the ball out for a corner. Parr got good contact, the ball deflecting off Wilson, but a goal kick was the result. O'Callaghan fouled Hayward, but nothing was forthcoming, and Norton picked up the lofted ball, winning a corner out of Keeling. Sykes cleared. Celtic had the bit between their teeth now, and new signing Andy Haskins was racing down the wing, only to be dragged down by Hansen, earning the evening's first booking. Though the free kick amounted to nothing Haskins wasn't to be denied his moment of glory. Wharton found the diminutive midfielder with a tricky ball, but Haskin's first touch allowed him to lose his marker, turn and make himself acres of space. He didn't even look up as he unleashed a powerful low drive that left Rogers in the Worksop nets clutching at empty air as the ball flew into the bottom corner. Wilson tried the instant reply from distance, but his powerful shot was straight at Robinson, and Celtic were on the attack again with only seconds left in the half. Ben Smith cut inside and drove a low pass through the six-yard box, taking a deflection off Thorpe to evade Hayward and Denham and go for a corner. Again Parr got good contact, heading narrowly wide. Worksop got a couple of early chances, Hansen firing off a well wide shot from distance, and a couple of free kicks from Wharton, Keeling, and Bowker, with Bowker's foul on Norton just outside the box for which he got a justifiable yellow card. Hansen's free kick was superb, curling and dipping in just under the bar until Robinson pulled off an acrobatic save to tip one handed the ball over the bar. Sykes cleared the near post corner. Worksop kept coming, and Parr had to cut out Norton's cross at the expense of a corner. That was cleared, but Whealing then fouled Hansen and Dudgeon knocked it to the edge of the box where Thorpe turned and shot over the bar. Ben Smith tried to emulate Haskin's earlier shot, shooting from outside the box, but Thorpe's thigh took the sting out of the shot, and Rodgers caught. Moments later, Hayward put a superb ball through the defence, but Denham running in couldn't quite grow enough to put a foot on the ball and steer it into the gaping net. Wharton eventually got booked after fouling Dudgeon on the half way line. From the free kick, Bowker conceded a corner, which Thorpe headed over. Whealing gave them another chance, moments later, and Sykes headed over his own bar as Worksop piled on the pressure. Townsend got a free header, and it took yet another great save from Robinson putting the ball out for yet another corner. Celtic got this completely clear. Andy Parton had been brought on for Wharton, and he linked up with Andy Hayward and Andy Haskins, with the latter turning nicely and having his shot blocked by Thorpe for a corner. Parton flicked the corner on and Hayward headed over the bar. With time running out for the home side, substitute Cropper managed to get behind Sykes and fired a powerful drive that Robinson did extremely well to tip around the post. Celtic cleared, and Haskins went on a darting run, until stopped by Davis just outside the box with a foul. Celtic played for possession, and after six minutes of stoppages, it was clear there would be no more goalmouth action and the referee called time to send Celtic through to an away day at the seaside with Morecambe. Quite where Celtic will fit the extra fixture in is anybody's guess, however a win is a win, and sets Celtic up well for the important clash on Friday against relegation rivals, Runcorn.