Match Report -
Ellington seals win
By Iain Benson
Celtic put in a less than 100% performance against Marine, who are a handy outfit, and won, albeit in the last moments of the game.

Marine started brighter, with Courtney going close. Pettinger was up to any threat the ex-Celtic striker posed. At the other end, Celtic too, came close with Mulvaney unlucky not to get his knock back on target. A power drive from Steve Smith was well parried by the keeper, and as the home defence struggled to cover, trialist Prince put away a difficult shot to put Celtic out in front.

However, the lead was short lived, with Sykes uncharacteristically allowing Courtney to latch onto a loose ball and go one-on-one with Pettinger. Pettinger must have been surprised by Courtney's appearance, and couldn't quite reach the across the face of goal shot, and Marine equalised.

The remainder of the half was quite even, with both sides carving out chances, and Prince had a couple of golden opportunities to grab a hat-trick, but for some good defending, and quick reactions from the home keeper.

Half time saw Celtic make their usual switcheroo, with just Price, Prince and Mulvaney staying on for Celtic. Buxton rarely had anything to do as the two teams tried to work an opening. The same was not true of the home keeper, who made a sharpish save off Ben Smith's shot, and about half way through the half made a stunning save as Ellington reached the unreachable ball and diverted it towards the bottom corner.

A clear cut penalty was denied when Mulvaney beat two defenders, drew the keeper, waltzed to the side and blasted a low drive for the bottom corner, only for Connolly to handle on the line preventing the goal; but a corner was all that was awarded. However, Mulvaney and Ellington were not to be denied and some good build up play saw one flick the ball into the path of the other. Ellington still had a lot to do, but he did it, beating his marker and getting a lucky deflection to put the ball into the bottom corner with minutes to go.

There was no way back for Marine, and Celtic topped off an average performance with a win. More work is definitely required, but we?re getting there.

First half: Pettinger, Black, Caldecott, Sykes, Haran, Price, S Smith, Willis, Jones, Mulvaney, Prince
Second half: Buxton, B Smith, Barnard, Keeling, Murcott, Price, Wharton, Hadland, Ellington, Prince (S Smith)