Match Report -
Celtic battered by the Cod
By Iain Benson
A collective off day meant that for the third time this season, Celtic have shipped five or more goals at home. Celtic were without influential midfielder Briggs through suspension, whilst Keeling's was missing through personal reasons.

The first half gave little indication of the drama to come. Torpey was put through by a lifted ball from Barwick and shot on the turn, but it was directed straight at Hurst. After Mulligan fouled Barlow just outside the box, Torpey's free kick was on target but far too easy a catch for the Fleetwood keeper.

Ex-Celt, Williams, latched onto a poor back-pass from Meynell, raced around Phillips and put his shot wide. The lack of finishing couldn't continue, and after a pair of corners the ball was just not cleared by the Celtic defence falling to Connors on the edge of the box, who fired back through a crowd with hardly a powerful strike, but it was enough: Phillips saw it late, and couldn't quite get across to it.

Ellington got a couple of chances to restore parity before half time, but both efforts were straight into Hurst's middle.

Right at the start of the second half Celtic went looking for the equaliser and played some nice touch football until Barwick's pass struck the referee on the side of the head the ball falling to Mulligan, Mulligan saw Phillips well of his line and tried the forty-five yard shot. Phillips did well to get back and push the ball out for a corner. Celtic didn't pick up Warlow who was completely unmarked eight yards out and he lashed the ball into the back of the net.

Moments later and another corner and another Fleetwood, this time Taylor nodding home unmarked at the near post.

Celtic tried to get back into it, with Torpey seeing a close range effort blocked on the line by Elderton, the ball falling to Bowler who saw his shot blocked on the line by Beeley, but it was Fleetwood who extended their lead. A pump down field, a chase from Warlow, Meynell unable to catch him, Phillips unable to catch the ball as it thumped into the net.

Bell added to Celtic's woes with a goal from another set-piece. A free kick this time floated into the box, Bell brought it down with time and space before kicking the ball into the roof of the net. It could have been six moments later when substitute Pond's lob effort hit the crossbar.

There were a couple of late chances for Celtic to get onto the score-sheet, but it would have been a consolation goal. Barlow curled an oblique effort from the edge of the box, it was the first time Hurst had been forced to move in order to make the save, and he did well tipping the ball out for a corner. With seconds left on the clock, Denham forced Hurst into his second save in as many minutes the ball palmed as far as Jennings coming in from the other side, but Beeley was on hand to block Jenning's low drive with Hurst stranded.

It could easily have been a heavier defeat had Fleetwood's finishing been better.

1Hurst, Danny  
2Beeley, Shaun  
3Elderton, Ryan  
4Mercer, Richard  
5Taylor, Steven  
6Connors, Steve  > 51
7Clancey, SeanYellow Card > 78
8Milligan, Jamie  
9Wilde, Michael  > 66
10Warlow, Adam  
11Williams, Chris  
12Bell, Andy  < 66
14Pond, Nathan  < 51
15Penswick, Danny  < 78
16Adams, Dylan  
17Hale, Michael  
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