Match Report -
Celtic denied a stonewall penalty - again!
By Six Yard Sam
Celtic can well feel aggrieved at only getting a point out of this game, despite not playing to their full potential.

Hinckley had a couple of good early chances, including getting the ball into the net only to see it ruled off side, Whitman's initial shot parried by Pettinger into the path of Brown stood in off-side position when the initial shot was struck, his rolling of the ball into an empty net was ruled out. Storer too had a good early chance blazing his header over the bar.

Celtic's best chance came when Banim rounded Haystead in the home-goals, and was ready to roll the ball into the empty net with Haystead on the floor behind him, suddenly the ground fell away beneath him as Haystead pulled his standing foot away clawing at Banim's ankle. In what was a clear cut, obvious penalty, the referee decided that a striker stood in the six yard box with the simplest of tap-ins would dive, and denied Celtic a penalty.

How that would have changed the face of the game will be forever unknown, for Hinckley would have been a goal and a man down. To make matters worse, the second half saw Hinckley win a series of corners. From one there was a blatant push on Pettinger as Jackson came in front of him, leaving the Celtic keeper sprawling and Jackson a simple header from the corner into the net.

Garvey and Price were replaced by Eastwood and Atkins, the latter halting the pressure from Hinckley and the former doing his usual trick of proving his invaluable nature. Banim teased the defence but couldn't create a clear cut chance, as Celtic upped the pressure despite looking tired. It paid dividends as the game drew to a close, with Banim latching onto a mistake by the home defence and spreading the ball to Eastwood who made no mistake blasting the ball into the back of the net.

Pettinger had to be on hand to make a few decent saves, and Haystead too had to be on his toes, but neither side did enough to win the game, though the game hinged on the decisions, or lack of, from the referee.