Craig Hobson got his first start for a while, and set about making a nuisance of himself, having the game's first shot on target ten minutes in, snapping off a half volley that Mark Cook was well placed to catch in the Harrogate nets, this moments after Graeme Armstrong had a free header off a corner that he put well wide of the mark. Celtic stand in keeper, Ashley Woodhouse, was tested a little later as Gary King came in on a cross, forcing the Celtic keeper into a very good stop before at the other end Lee Elam jinked his way into an opening only to smash the ball into the side netting.

Harrogate scored a doubly controversial goal immediately after this, as Graeme Armstrong's speculative effort was stopped at the far post by Woodhouse only for Richard Pell to come in and allegedly put the ball over the line. Celtic claimed he shoved his way to the ball, and further to that, did not get the ball across the line, however, both decisions went in Pell's favour and he was awarded the game's opening goal.

A flying save from Woodhouse denied Armstrong from a corner, before an acrobatic one denied Lee Ellington off the second corner. At the other end, a super cross flashed across the face of goal from Glenn Rule, but neither Phil Marsh nor Craig Hobson could get telling touch, both inches away from levelling.

The second period saw a cracking effort from Craig Hobson go flying narrowly wide of the corner of post and bar, whilst at the other end: Woodhouse denied Armstrong with a comfortable catch, but the ball bounced sharply from Ciaran Toner's effort, going for a corner. Armstrong was again afforded the freedom of a free header, and made no mistake the second time, planting it beyond Woodhouse's reach.

Two goals down, and Celtic upped their game, but it was too little too late. Marsh finally had the beating of Cook in the Town goals, but Jake Picton's header on the line kept the two goal cushion for the home side. With Arthur Gnahoua's lobbed shot well wide, as was Craig Hobson's effort, the only other real chance Celtic managed to carve in a game to forget was a free kick from Kristian Platt that summed up Celtic's afternoon, by flying well over the target.