Celtic started and finished the stronger of the two teams in our opening competitive match of the season, but despite equalising, Matty Bryan’s introduction undid Ramsbottom.

For the opening twenty minutes, Celtic carved out half a dozen decent chances, mainly coming from the pacy double threat of Jack Banister and Connor Hughes, but when both got a shooting opportunity, they lacked power and Brad Rose could scoop up. Crosses to Liam Tongue and Josh Quarless also resulted in weak efforts on target. Twenty-five minutes in, Ramsbottom began to get into the game, with Josh Tinker heading goalward, only for Charlie Monk to catch well. Before Ramsbottom could properly get into the game, Banister again got past his marker, pulling the ball back for Tongue. Tongue’s shot to the far post saw Hughes nip between two defenders to divert the ball into the opposite corner, wrong footing Rose and giving Celtic the lead.

The home side had to come at Celtic straight away, and did so, earning a foul thirty-five yards from goal. Although initially defended, Celtic didn’t clear their lines, and Scott Sephton headed back into the mix. Kyle Brownhill pushed Tom Hoyle wide, but still got his shot off from a tight angle, squeezing the ball between Monk and the post. A resurgent Ramsbottom came within an inch of taking the lead during a dominant spell, when Harvey Whyte’s shot found the narrowest of paths through a packed box to hit the upright.

Celtic swapped Quarless for Matty Bryan, giving the home defence something else to worry about, and he would have an impact. Though, first, it was Jack Irlam who tried to capitalise, getting to a loose ball ahead of Rose, stabbing it past the keeper and hitting the post. Suddenly, Celtic looked dangerous. Tongue’s rocket from thirty-yards required a good stop, with Irlam following in. However, time was edging towards a replay, until Bryan beat Sephton to the ball in the box, but the ex-Celtic defender had already lunged, taking Bryan instead of the ball and giving Celtic a penalty. Tongue took it and put Celtic back in front from the spot.

There was still time for Celtic to make sure, and Bryan again was involved, brought down inches from the box by Sam Rigby. Connor Hughes took an arrow-straight power drive straight into the top corner and Ramsbottom’s FA Cup dream ended, while Celtic next face freshly relegated Stafford Rangers in the opening match of the season.