Match Report -
Home Hoodoo Continues
By Iain Benson
Despite a storming second half performance, Celtic couldn't undo the damage done in the first half.

Celtic looked to start brightly enough, but after a foul on Torpey that was flagged by the assistant was overruled by the referee, Celtic fell asleep and a punt down the field found Beckett with only Phillips to beat, and a good finish lobbing the ball over Phillips gave Trinity the goal they needed to control the game.

Torpey tried an instant response, bursting through the middle, avoiding the tackles, but the shot through a crowd was straight at Sollitt and caused no bother, nor did his second effort that was screwed wide of the upright from the corner of the box. Celtic kept pressing and played some smart one touch football to keep possession, moving the ball inexorably up the field, Meechan beating his man, touching inside for Torpey, who thought about the shot, but instead played an inch perfect pass into Smart's stride, one smashed low drive, and Celtic were equal.

Ten minutes before half time, and Sykes did well to deny Hall a crossing chance at the expense of a corner, Phillips came out, couldn't claim cleanly, instead palming the ball for a second corner. This was whipped in low by former Celt, Burbeary and in the melee on the line Phillips appeared to have grabbed the ball with both hands, but a toe poke from McMahon squeezed the ball over the line.

Celtic went for it in the second half, Meechan volleyed past the post, Battersby got onto an outstanding Meechan cross, but his bullet header shot past the wrong side of the upright with Sollitt a spectator. Barlow was introduced and immediately got involved in a congested penalty area, but couldn't get his shot on target. A second striker introduction saw young Jennings from the reserves who got stuck in and was almost rewarded with a goal with almost his first touch, beating Sollitt with his well struck grass cutter, but the ball smashed against the foot of the post, and Trinity cleared for a corner. Briggs was everywhere on the field, and four times came within a fraction of an inch of grabbing the equaliser, twice off corners as he ran through walls to get to the ball, only to see them both come off defenders? heads for goal kicks, and twice off crosses, one from Torpey and one from Meechan, but both time, he was a whisker wide.

It became a half of what might have been with the chances created. The officials may have missed the obvious punch on Sykes, not taken action on the stamping tackle by Lukic on Briggs, might have missed the elbow knocking Torpey off his feet in the box, but the result at the end of the game reflects the game, and Celtic have failed to shake off their home hoodoo and break down another hard working visiting side.

1Sollitt, Adam  
2Greenwood, Ross  
3Drury, Martin  
4Spafford, Neal  
5Lukic, James  
6Anson, Danny  
7Mallon, Ryan  
8Burbeary, Ashley  > 74
9Beckett, Luke  > 80
10McMahon, Lewis  
11Hall, Christopher  
12Austin, Matt  < 74
14Wilson, Bobby  
15Cullingworth, James  
16Needham, Liam  
17Bradley, Jason  < 80
Match Sponsor
Brother UK
Ball Sponsor
Keyfax