Match Report -
A point earned
By Deborah Taylor

Celtic came from behind before the heavens opened to earn a point on the road in Lancaster.

Chris Dagnall's equaliser from a wonderful Theo Bailey-Jones cross ensured Celtic returned from The Giant Axe with a point.

After a sluggish start by both teams, Lancaster found their feet first. Niall Cowperthwaite forced Greg Hall into the first stop of the match, testing the Celtic keeper. It was a good low stop from Hall but impossible to hold. In the scramble that followed, Dominic Lawson pushed the ball over the line, and though hacked clear, it was judged to have crossed the line.

Cowperthwaite had a go from thirty yards to try and double their advantage, whilst the closest Celtic came in this period saw Raul Correia's venomous strike blocked by Andy Teague.

Celtic got back into the game with an inch perfect cross from Bailey-Jones after Correia had laid the ball out to him. Dagnall arrowed the header past a flailing Sam Waller.

Both sides could have grabbed another before the break with a sharp stop denying Bailey-Jones's volley whilst Hall had plenty of time to get down and smother Dale Whitham's effort from range.

Bailey-Jones started the second half off with a low drive from the edge of the box, which may have been going wide, but Waller made sure.

It was Bailey-Jones again as the rain lashed down, but Waller was well-placed.

Heading into the last ten minutes, Eddie Ikpakwu beat Greg Hall, but not Matty Carson who on the line was able to hack the ball away.

In injury time, substitute Tinashe Chakwana got a glorious chance to snatch all three points but he headed a Harry Benns cross narrowly over the bar.

Celtic returned to Greater Manchester with a hard earned point.

1Waller, Sam  
2Bailey, Samuel  > 81
3Bailey, Charlie  
4Allington, Patrick  > 26
5Teague, AndrewYellow Card 
6Mellen, Jamie  
7Sloan, Christian  
8Cowperthwaite, Niall  > 60
9Lawson, Dominic  
10Whitham, Dale  
11Evangelinos, Nico  
12Ikpakwu, EddieYellow Card < 26
13Anderson, Curtis  
14Carroll, Bradley  
15Jarvis, Paul  < 60
16Carsley, Bradley  < 81