Match Report -
Celtic record impressive away win at in-form Whitby
By Taran Dhamrait

Celtic recorded a superb 1-0 win away at Whitby Town as Marcus Dackers scored this third goal in two games to give Celtic a huge three points in North Yorkshire.

Celtic dominated for the majority of the game and on another night, probably would have scored three or four goals. Impressively, Simon Haworth’s side denied Whitby the chance to have a single shot on target and in doing so, ended their six game winning run.

Celtic started the game quickly and looked dangerous early on with Jay Fitzmartin and Justin Johnson both taking aim at goal within the first 15 minutes.

Josh MacDonald and Jacob Hazel did go close at the other end but in truth, Liam Isherwood was not troubled at all throughout the evening.

Celtic’s first clear chance came on 24 minutes. Ashley Smith-Brown had gotten into an advanced position down the left flank, his cross was met by a rising Charley Doyle however his powerful header from the penalty spot was over the bar.

Just five minutes later, Doyle went close again, this time meeting Johnson’s cross to the back post, firing towards goal as the ball dropped to Celtic’s midfielder but Shane Bland on this occasion was able to parry the shot.

Celtic continued to create chances and on 38 minutes, Johnson saw a shot from a tight angle strike the post after help from goalkeeper Bland.

Celtic went into the break level with Whitby but would have felt unlucky to be behind. They came out with the same tempo and momentum from the first half and it took an amazing save from Bland to deny Doyle Celtic’s opener. A free-kick was headed clear to Doyle, he struck the ball on the volley, 25 yards out, it looked to be dipping into the top right corner of the net but Bland at full-stretch was able to scramble across and tip the ball behind for a corner.

Fitzmartin saw an effort from just inside the area fall wide of the post before Johnson used his pace and trickery to dribble infield, his powerful shot across goal was narrowly wide.

Celtic must have thought that it wasn’t going to happen but on 72 minutes, deadlock was broken and it was Celtic’s on-loan striker Dackers who scored his third goal in two games. Johnson who was causing Whitby’s full-backs all kinds of problems delivered a cross from the left, Dackers movement evaded Whitby’s defence and he connected with the cross to put Celtic deservedly ahead.

Whitby began to throw men forward but Celtic didn’t really look like conceding which is credit to the team who looked strong at the back but also dangerous in attack.




In the closing stages, the hosts began to lose their heads and Jameel Ible who was already on a yellow card, decided to kick out at Scott Bakkor and he received a straight red card in doing so.

Celtic saw the game out and recorded a fantastic away win to make it three wins from four.

Celtic: Isherwood, Nyaupembe, Smith-Brown, Wedgbury (C), O’Grady, Quansah, Fitzmartin (Bakkor ’59), Harris, Dackers, Doyle, Johnson.

Subs not used: Barlow, Killock, Padden, Burton.

Attendance: 403

1Bland, Shane  
2Ible, JameelRed Card 
3Sukar, Jassem  
4Rowe, Daniel  
5Ritson, Lewis  
6Burn, Jonathan  
7MacDonald, Josh  
8Gell, Adam  > 46
9Hazel, JacobYellow Card 
10Fewster, Bradley  > 70
11Cooke, Liam  > 58
12Dyer, Nathan  
14Hackett, Jake  < 58
15Giles, Marcus  < 70
16Griffiths, Priestley  < 46
17Shepherd, Coleby