In Celtic’s final pre-season fixture, an excellent all-round performance gave the win to Celtic, the performance marred by one uncleared ball to give Ashton a consolation goal.

Both sides had early chances, Ruben Jerome inches away from opening the scoring in the first minutes, while at the other end, former Celtic fan-favourite Darius Osei sent his effort over the bar. The Celtic backline, marshalled by John Granite and Jack Tinning, gave no quarter, leaving Ashton failing to register another shot in the half, whilst Obua Mugalula snapped off a shot Tommy Taylor got his body behind. However, Taylor could do nothing when Jerome slid the ball out wide for Andy Scarisbrick to cut inside and drive his shot low and hard. Taylor blocked it, but with Jack Irlam and Mike Koral there, one of them would touch it home, and Irlam took the plaudits.

Ashton started the stronger of the two after the interval, with Osei forcing Charlie Monks into a routine stop, whilst Liam Tongue had two efforts from outside the box, the first zipping wide, the second watched all the way by Taylor. A fabulous build up by Celtic saw fluid football undo Ashton and will worry the watching Runcorn manager in the stands, as Celtic piled forward, Ellis Horan finishing the move by rounding the fullback with pace and control, and pulling back to a waiting Benni Smales-Braithwaite to pick his spot and blast home. Ashton filled the Celtic box with bodies during one attack, so when John Lufudu got the ball into the box, the crowded area prevented Celtic from clearing and a trialist snuck the ball in. Though Lewis Rawsthorn went close and Benni Smales-Braithwaite hit the side netting, no more goals were forthcoming and Celtic go to Runcorn next week on a high.