Celtic expected a good defensive work out against higher league opposition Macclesfield, and this is what they got, but it was a mistake from Celtic and an own goal that gave the full-time Silkmen the win.

It was a blistering attack from Celtic that undid the hosts. Joe Edwards freed Liam Tongue, who spread the ball across the pitch to Connor Hughes. Hughes swept past a wrong-footed defender to go one-on-one, faked a lob and slotted it past the stranded keeper just three minutes into the match.

Macclesfield came back strong, attacking in pairs down both flanks. After John Rooney’s blistering shot gave Charlie Monks a chance to produce a save for the cameras, Danny Elliot and John Rooney tried to find a way through, but Celtic defended well, until Tre Pemberton turned up as a spare man to slide a half cleared ball home.

The second half saw Macclesfield start at pace, overwhelming Celtic, but the defence held firm against full-time opposition. Monks made a few simple stops before Elliot’s rocket from the edge beat the Celtic keeper. Aaron Chalmers, on the line, headed clear a shot that would have knocked out anybody else. After wholesale changes, Celtic began threatening again. Hounding and harrying across the park, looking the more likely to score. And score they did, but unwittingly, at the wrong end. A Macclesfield Trialist saw his shot come back to Elliot with Jordan Burton able to get the block in, only for the loose ball to hit Sean Tse and bounce in giving the hosts the win.

Celtic from: Charlie Monks, Javid Swaby-Neavin, Kyle Brownhill, Sean Tse, Aaron Chalmers, Jack Tinning, Jordan Butterworth, Max Leonard, Connor Hughes, Liam Tongue, Joe Edwards, Prince Chidera, Jordan Burton, Joe Robbins, Jack Irlam, Jack Banister, Tommy Duffy, Josh Quarless.