In fast-paced game with plenty of chances, West Didsbury and Chorlton converted more, with clear-cut openings to take, disappointing from a Celtic perspective.

Celtic had the better of the first half, Elliot Rokka pulled off a half-volley in the opening minute which Latiq Roberts’s leg deflected for a corner, Liam Tongue firing low off the corner into Martin’s arms. Max Leonard tried his luck from distance with a fine shot, seeing Martin back-peddle to palm over the bar. Celtic kept coming and Benni Smales-Braithwaite’s cross from the wing was met with intent by Leonard, volleyed into the top corner. West had a bit of a comeback, Harvey Roberts firing over, and Charlie Monks risking life and limb to snatch the ball from Jordan Lazenby’s feet. Lazenby then had a cracking effort which Monks blocked and took at the second attempt. However, Celtic were soon racking up the chances, the home side running on luck, Latiq Roberts somehow stopping Rokka from poking over the line, West digging the ball out under pressure, before Tongue’s driven effort needed Martin to hold onto it. Harvey Roberts showed great skill off a free kick, the s-curl on the shot, flying just wide, and then, with half-time looming, Brandon Dawson was left unmarked at the back post, Harvey Roberts’s low cross missed by four Celtic defenders and Monks, leaving Dawson with a tap in.

West started the second half as they finished the first, with Jordan Lazenby’s cheeky attempt smacking the crossbar. Kaleb Parkinson burst through one-on-one, Monks did well, the ball looked heading wide, but Lazenby charged in, needing Jordan Butterworth to push it out for a corner. Parkinson bet the offside trap, and with a chasing pack, he rounded Monks, kept his feet and fired West in front. When both Mike Koral and Jack Byrne slipped, Lazenby took advantage, one-on-one, he nutmegged Monks and left Celtic with a hill to climb. And climb it they tried. In an end-to-end game, Smales-Braithwaite tried to pull one back, but again Martin pulled off a top save, and promoted from the under-21s, Nat Fontaine saw his close range header to the bottom corner somehow reached by Martin. Ellis Horan saw Martin off his line and fired for forty-yards firing just wide, Kyle Brownhill had the ball arrive behind him and tried to flick it with his heel, but again, wide. With two minutes left, Jack Irlam hit the bar and Fontaine got his head on the rebound. Somehow, Martin twisted on the floor to catch and hold Fontaine’s header, meaning West went through and Celtic went home.