Match Report -
Celtic lose out against Bamber Bridge
By Deborah Taylor

Two goals in a minute cancelled out an own goal in the first half and edged Bamber Bridge into a position from where they could expertly shut the game down.

Celtic had the better of the first half, pressing the visitors into their own defensive third, though Jay Fitzmartin had to be stretchered off in the first few minutes. Jake Burton stepped into the role admirably and might have had a goal or two of his own with mazy runs, but in neither case could he beat Mateusz Hewelt in the Bamber Bridge goals. Marcus Dackers was denied by a stretched-out defenders leg and Ethan Padden saw his rocket blocked on the line.

Celtic had a little assistance from Nathan Pond for the final breakthrough of a stubborn defence. Firstly, he conceded a free kick in a dangerous position on Burton, after getting booked, he horribly sliced the free kick as he attempted to clear it under pressure from Charley Doyle. The ball curved past Hewelt like a seasoned striker’s intended finish.

Though Celtic started the second half as they’d finished the first, with Johnson forcing Hewelt in an excellent stop and Dackers flashing a header narrowly wide, it was obvious the visitors had changed their game plan. Rob Apter had joined his opposite winger to double up on Ashley Smith-Brown. Matthew Thompson’s ball to Finlay-Smith who checked the ball back to Apter who cut inside and fired low inside the near post. A minute later and Apter had a goal of his own, Mark Yeats with the corner, low to the edge of the box and Apter swept the ball past an unsighted Will Huffer.

Celtic battled against a wave of staunch defending to find an equaliser, but with some expert disruption tactics, the visitors took all the passion out of the game and despite Stephen Brogan going close in the final moments, his shot lacked the power and the visitors left with all three points.

1Hewelt, Mateusz  
2Thomson, MatthewYellow Card 
3White, Ryan  
4Spooner, Callum  
5Pond, NathanYellow Card 
6Boyle, Dylan  
7Apter, Rob  
8Sinclair, IsaacYellow Card 
9Dudley, Matt  > 62
10Yeats, Mark  
11Sinclair-Smith, Finley  
12Carney, Craig  < 62
14Green, Sheldon  
15Churchman, Chris  
16Wilson, Macaulay  
17Forbes, Danny