An incident in the first minute decided this experimental Friday evening game.
A thundering Jones' half volley brought the best save of the match, with Paul Sparrow tipping the ball around the post. Unfortunately, Sparrow is the Lancaster number 2! The referee had no hesitation in sending Sparrow off, and awarding Celtic a spot kick. Bauress slotted home his third penalty of the season, before most of the 530 strong crowd had finished migrating!
Kevin Parr sealed the game before the quarter hour, sending a vicious shot through a crowd of players and into the net.
The pressure from that point on was all Celtic. Just before the half hour, Steve Pickford received the ball at the edge of the area, after some fine wing play by Parr and McNeil. His first time shot brought the second best save of the match, this time by Lancaster's legitimate keeper, Horridge. Such was the ferocity of the shot, that Horridge required medical treatment of the hand that stopped the shot!
The only noteworthy Lancaster effort of the first half came when Barnes' was allowed to run on Goal. Under pressure from Crookes, his tame shot was collected comfortably by Ingham.
Celtic's reply was instantaneous. In a crowded box, it took Parr three attempts to get his second, and Celtic's third. First a fine save, then a block on the line, before finally, it was squeezed in.
Celtic looked relaxed in the second half, playing possession football. The goal mouth incidents were numerous, with Sullivan narrowly missing the far post, after rounding the out of position keeper, and McNeil, Filson and Parr all going close with headers from Celtic's numerous corners.
On the hour, McNeil finally showed Sullivan how to round the keeper and slot home, when he did just that. He got on the score sheet again seven minutes later, when Sullivan raced down the right wing, and sent a low shot/cross into the six yard box. Stretching and sliding, McNeil's boot got there first. Five - nil.
Lancaster had one last shot left in them, and it was a doozy, from the boot of Mayers, forcing Ingham to prove he is still the best keeper in the Northern Premier.
