Jan Budtz kept Celtic in the game in the first half with full stretch flying saves to deny first Adam Webster, and then Andy Hall. A set-piece only half cleared was put back into the box, with a Celtic defensive mix up seeing Chris Hope take advantage with a free header past Budtz. Celtic's best chance of the half came near the end of it, with Craig Hobson having the time to bring down Connor Jennings's cross but powered his drive just the wrong side of the post with Aaron Butcher grasping air. Celtic rued that miss right before the interval when Steve Towers had the time and the space, albeit at some distance, to smash a powerful shot past Budtz, despite the Celtic keeper getting a good hand to the ball.
Corby looked content to sit on the lead in the second period and stifle Celtic at every opportunity, but Jim Harvey pulled off a masterful double substitution bringing on Adam Kay and Lee Elam for Hobson and Jack Rea. The pair set about dismantling a staunch Corby defence, with Elam finding Phil Marsh whose first time pass split the home defence with Jennings latching onto the ball and rounding Butcher to pull a goal back.
There was still a mountain to climb, but Celtic were motoring up it with style. There was no surprise when Kay and Elam combined, the latter firing in the cross for Phil Marsh to sneak onto and smash past Butcher to bring Celtic on terms. In the dying moments, one point could have become three when Phil Marsh found half a yard, but it was a difficult chance and he dragged his shot wide.
1 | Butcher, Aaron | ||
2 | West, Dean | ||
3 | Chartlton, Asa | ||
4 | Hope, Chris | ||
5 | Gulliver, Phil | ||
6 | Fitzpatrick, Paul | > 80 | |
7 | Hall, Andy | ||
8 | Towers, Steve | ||
9 | Webster, Adam | > 80 | |
10 | Jarman, Nathan | ||
11 | Walker, Glenn | > 80 | |
12 | Riddick, Liam | ||
14 | Johnson, Simon | < 80 | |
15 | Sansara, Netan | < 80 | |
16 | Diggin, Steve | < 80 |
1 | Budtz, Jan | ||
2 | Rule, Glenn | ||
3 | Meynell, Rhys | ||
4 | Ryan, Tim | ||
5 | Platt, Kristian | ||
6 | Brogan, Stephen | ||
7 | Jennings, Connor | > 90 | |
8 | Rea, Jack | > 71 | |
9 | Marsh, Phil | ||
10 | Hobson, Craig | > 71 | |
11 | Warburton, Callum | ||
12 | Bembo-Leta, Joel | ||
14 | Elam, Lee | < 71 | |
15 | Austin, Mitchell | < 90 | |
16 | Davies, Craig | ||
17 | Kay, Adam | < 71 |