Match Report -
Celtic Win PSF Away At Mossley
By Deborah Taylor

Two soft penalties kick started a (mostly) friendly pre-season fixture at neighbours, Mossley, before Celtic finished grabbed another couple in the first half, whilst the second half saw some cracking stops to keep the scoreline at 1-3.

Scott Bakkor tried early on to snatch a goal, with a build up down the right, he received the ball, turned and shot in a fluid motion that required a finger tip from Tony Aghayere to push the shot onto the crossbar and out for a corner. Moments later and Bakkor was through on goal, but the slightest of taps on his ankle from Declan Evans saw the Celtic striker lose his balance. The referee pointed to the spot, with Bakkor converting easily.

Mossley were level less than ten minutes later when a bouncing ball over the top for Mike Fish saw the Mossley man step between Jake Turner and the ball, Turner backed off, but Fish flew forward. If the first penalty had been the lightest of touches, this was a whisper of a breeze of a touch, nevertheless, a penalty was awarded. Turner pulled off a great penalty save, but Ben Richardson reacted quickest off the rebound to smash in the equaliser in a game where the Celtic backline were able to hold off Mossley fairly comfortably.

Three minutes later, and Bakkor was back running at the Mossley backline, though he was stopped, the ball came out to Greg Wilkinson, who took one touch, then a second to place the ball into the bottom corner of the net, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Right on the stroke of half time, Luke Wall's cross was inch perfect to Matty Wolfenden, the two looking to have established an early rapport. Wolfenden's tap in was the simplest of finishes to finish off a great run and cross from Wall.

The second half saw no more goals, but there were chances. Harrison got past the Celtic backline and bore down on Turner. The Bolton keeper stood his ground and made a decent stop with his foot one-on-one. John Marsden, at the other end, flashed a header narrowly wide off Lee Knight's cross, and Mossley's second half keeper made a good account of himself with an exceptional save from Wilkinson's close range effort. Turner was immense in the Celtic goal, twice denying Ben Halfacre, a one-on-one and a dipping effort from the edge of the box, both of which Turner took in his stride. Turner saved the best stop of the match for right at the end, after Callum Spooner's clearance struck a Mossley attacker, coming across the face to Halfacre, who got a powerful strike on his unchallenged shot, Turner getting across well, and pulling off the stop.

All in all, it was another strong performance from an ever improving Celtic side.

Celtic squad from: Jake Turner, Callum Spooner, Stephen Rigby, Jack Taylor, Liam Tongue, Billy Akrigg, Luke Wall, Ross Dent, Scott Bakkor, Greg Wilkinson, Matty Wolfenden, Lee Knight, Aiden Winterbottom, Niall Flint, John Marsden, Elliott Cooke, Scott Harries, James Power.