Match Report -
One More Point
By Debbie Taylor

Celtic moved a point closer to rescuing their season, but they could have been even closer had they held on to their one goal lead for a little longer.

Celtic started the game well, Oliver Crowley causing havoc up and down the wing, and unveiling the latest weapon in his arsenal, the long throw, which caused havoc with the Leamington defence. Both Michael Potts and Aidan Chippendale went close, while weak shots at either rend warmed up the keepers, Lee Moore and Tom Bentham hardly getting the power they needed to test their opposite keepers.

When Scott Kerr was bundled over by Jordan Goddard, Chippendale floated in a great free kick. Chris Simm connected initially with air, but retained the composure to try again and rifled his effort past Jonny Maddison some ten minutes before half time. Leamington looked devoid of ideas for getting back into the game during the remainder of the half and went in the more dejected of the two teams.

The second half saw Celtic start brightly and but for an important block on the line from Delroy Gordon as Bentham poked hoe a long throw from Crowley, Celtic would have got that goal that would have ended any chance Leamington had. If Leamington had a let off there, Celtic had a bigger one moments later, as Lee Moore broke the offside trap and, one-on-one with Ross Etheridge, lobbed the Celtic keeper, but the ball wouldn't fall for Moore and cleared the crossbar.

At the other end, Chippendale's free kick caught the wind and required Maddison to be alert, and Matty Hughes went close from a corner, however, Celtic couldn't make that final break through.

With fifteen minutes left on the clock, Leamington had a purple patch, Nathan Hicks forcing Etheridge into a decent stop, and suddenly, the panic set in. Gordon's ball flashing across the face had to be palmed away by Etheridge as his defence dropped deeper in front of him. Celtic looked, despite this, that they might just hold on, but a goal was coming, and for a change, it wasn't a set-piece, as Lee Moore pulled the ball back from the by-line. Substitute Nathan Hicks reached the low cross first, and side-footed the equaliser into the back of the net.

Leamington could possibly have punished Celtic further as they looked a little lost, but Leamington seemed happier with the draw than Celtic were.

It's not over yet, but we are rapidly running out of games, and next up are Harrogate at home.

1Maddison, Jonny  
2Mace, James  
3Gudger,Connor  
4Magunda,JoeYellow Card > 85
5Tank, Jamie  
6Gordon, Delroy  
7Goddard,Jordan  > 65
8Edwards, Jack  
9Moore; Lee  
10Truslove, Luam  > 58
11Chilton, LeeYellow Card 
12Taundry, Richard  < 58
14Hicks, Nathan  < 65
15Hawker, Josh  
16Yafai, Bilal  < 85
17Fenney, Lewis