The scoreline flattered Nantwich in a game Celtic dominated.

From the off, Celtic were looking for a goal, with Max Leonard’s lofted shot to the back post almost headed into his own net by Pat Kennedy, while Ellis Horan’s low shot was palmed around the post and Kyle Brownhill’s distance effort flew wide. Jack Tinning’s continued run after a lay off almost saw him find the net, but for a trailing leg from Ben Garret, and then a second save from the corner with Tinning get a good contact, all in the first fifteen minutes. It was therefore against the run of play when a looping ball into the box from George Cooper hit Alex Panter square in the face, wrong footing Charlie Monks, the ball flying into the back of the net, and Panter getting treatment for a nose bleed. Celtic didn’t panic, Liam Tongue denied by a stuck out leg from Josh Langley, before eventually the breakthrough came. Ruben Jerome showed strength and control to get into the box and hold the ball, poking it through to Leonard to smash in the equaliser.

The second half continued in the same vein. Andy Scarisbrick flicked header back past Garrett hit the crossbar and Liam Tongue’s free kick missed by a hair’s width. Horan twice went close, running rampant past his fullback to be denied first by a good stop from Garrett and then by Langley throwing his body on the line. Celtic’s second came as Leonard and Jerome switched places, Leonard pulling back Jack Irlam’s corner for Ruben to poke through a crowd. Five minutes later and it was three. Leonard with his back to goal holding off Ben Hockenhull, who tripped him as Leonard laid the ball off. Penalty, and Irlam converted convincingly. Hockenhull made amends by blocking Jerome’s shot on the line going into stoppages.

Nantwich threw the kitchen sink at Celtic. Joe Collins forced Charlie Monks into a flying block, before surreality descended. Horan walked away from Joel Connolly trying to get a rise out of the winger. Andy Scarisbrick stopped Connolly from doing something he’d regret, but the official showed both Scarisbrick and Connelly yellows, then from nowhere conjured up a free kick for Nantwich near the halfway line. Celtic should have set up better, but Callum Saunders did, latching onto the deep free kick to pull one back at the death.