The first half saw Atherton come out guns blazing, but the Celtic defence held firm restricting the visitors to one real chance, a header from Joe Piggot straight at Charlie Monks who caught easily. Jack Byrne and Dylan Scott both tested Conor Robson in the Collieries’ nets, whilst Jack Irlam and Kyle Brownhill got into good positions but missed the target, and Byrne saw his header from a corner cleared off the line by Ben Rydel as Celtic dominated the chances.

The second half continued after an early burst of pace from Atherton’s Aaron Dwyer, but the shot lacked conviction, and again Celtic went onto carve out more and better chances at the other end, the Celtic defence coping with anything the visitors had in their locker. On the hour, what has to be classed as a genius triple substitution saw the front three replaced, Ruben Jerome, Benni Smales-Braithwaite and Ellis Horan coming on.

Less than a minute later, Ruben won the ball and found Liam Tongue, Tongue placed the ball low through the box and Smales-Braithwaite turned the ball goalwards to give Celtic the lead.

With still half an hour to go, Celtic had to weather pressure from the visitors, but in truth, Atherton rarely threatened, Byrne and Ruben could have made the last twenty minutes comfortable, but Robson did well, and did even better, twisting to change direction to keep out Horan. Celtic saw the game out, and ran out deserved winners.