Match Report -
Celtic Lose Away At Mickleover
By Deborah Taylor

Celtic started far too slowly with a team decimated by the loss of six players, allowing Mickleover to get goals early in each half, although once Celtic started playing, Mickleover panicked.

The opening goal came ten minutes into the game in the home team's first attack when Nathan Jarman's cross was dropped by Aidan Winterbottom, the bounce taking the ball away from the young keeper and into the path of Shaquille McDonald, the Mickleover striker taking the ball wide and firing in from a tight angle.

Mickleover seemed content to take the one goal lead, as did Celtic. In the last five minutes, Celtic upped their game, pressing the home goal hard. Neil Kengni laid off Greg Wilkinson for a low drive, but John McGrath was able to block before the shot could trouble Callum Hawkins. Matty Wolfenden did manage to drive past the defence, but his effort was straight at Hawkins.

The second half started and ended with good goals. McDonald added to his tally when James Phillips found him with a pull back. There was still work to do, but McDonald turned and fired in a looping shot that flew over Winterbottom and into the back of the net.

Celtic responded through the quick feet of Scott Bakkor and Andrew Scott. Scott fired in a cracking effort but Hawkins was well placed. It took until the last five minutes for the pressure to finally cause the Mickleover backline to crack. Bakkor battled in the corner, releasing Neil Kengni. There was a wall of red between Kengni and goal, forcing him to put the ball for the overlap to Elliott Cooke. Cooke turned inside, and unleashed a curling drive that left Hawkins grasping air.

Mickleover were on the ropes, but the closest Celtic came was when Glenn Rule's header opened the way for Greg Wilkinson to lash in a low drive that flew the wrong side of the post and the game finished moments later.

1Hawkins, Callum  
2Scott, Jake  
3Turner, BenYellow Card 
4McGrath, JohnYellow Card 
5Mills, Pablo  
6Berry, Durrell  
7Phillips, James  > 82
8Warren, Mason  
9McDonald, Shaquille  > 65
10Jarman, Nathan  
11Carey, Kyle  > 82
12Cribley, Edward  < 82
14Ravenshill, Ricky  
15Ford, Reece  
16Prusa, Adam  < 65
17Garnett, Evan  < 82