Match Report -
Simply sublime
By Iain Benson
It looked like it was going to be one of those nights during the first half. Solihull were quick to close down all the spaces and latch onto the loose balls, without actually creating anything of an attacking nature.

Crane, in the visiting goals knew he was in a game almost from the off, a Torpey grass scorcher stinging his hands, before he pulled of a superb save when Briggs thundered in on a Torpey cross with Crane making an instinctive block. Minutes later and Crane had to fly across his goal to deny Torpey, and was relieved to see both of Williams's efforts fly over the bar. Briggs and Barwick both went close before a sensational through ball from Barwick just before the break went right into Joynes's stride. There was still a lot for Joynes to do, with Spencer breathing down his neck and Crane rushing out, but somehow Joynes guided the ball under Crane before the two players crashed into him leaving Joynes on the floor and the ball trickling over the line.

Joynes was replaced at half time by Barlow, and virtually his first touch was to receive the ball off Ellington in the centre of goal, unmarked six yards out. He turned and lifted it over Crane, who just stared, dumbfounded as the ball looped over him, and somehow came down in the net.

If Celtic had been pulling the Moors apart before, the visitors were shredded now. A sublime piece of play stretching play allowed Williams the freedom to beat his man and put in a low cross for Briggs steaming in. Briggs struck the ball sweetly under Crane who was helpless behind a static defence. Seconds later, and Solihull were torn asunder again, this time Torpey unleashing a thunderbolt from the corner of the box that Crane leapt for but had no chance of reaching.

A through ball from Barwick again left the defence flat footed, and Barlow swept in, picked up the ball and made it five, netting a personal double.

Palmer did have a chance for Solihull, but he lacked the conviction to test Phillips, who saved comfortably, and when he broke free, Phillips smothered well at his feet. That was about it from Solihull as an attacking force.

Celtic could have made it a nice half dozen on the counter, a ferocious strike from Ellington extremely well saved by Crane, the corner flicked towards goal by Barlow, only for Crane to make another instinctive save, the ball falling to Ellington. Ellington had the time and space to pick his spot, but Crane pulled off the save of the match getting across to deny the goal.

As the game drew towards its conclusion, the traffic was still all one way, with Ellington and Barlow both missing narrowly, and Woolliscroft got forward to have a go himself, but screwed the ball wide.

Celtic were simply too good for Solihull, who look set for a long hard season.

1Crane, Daniel  
2Travis, Simon  
3Shilton, Sam  
4Spencer, Kevin  
5Streete, Theo  
6Tuohy, Michael  
7Faulds, Peter  
8Middleton, Darren  
9Edwards, Jake  
10Palmer, Marcus  
11Motteram, Carl  
12English, Junior  
14Collins, Lee  
15Rachel, Adam