Match Report -
Ellington hat-trick
By Iain Benson
Celtic made it three wins out of three at home with a convincing display over Moor Green. Moor Green never looked like getting anything out of the game, except some bookings.

From the off it was Celtic's match, and Prince went close after a jinking run gave him the space at the edge of the box, but the shot went into the side netting. Prince then laid off Field with a good square ball, but his shot was a regulation catch for Coates in the visitor's nets. Celtic were getting closer, and Sykes was desperately unlucky when Field threaded a ball through to him, and his shot on the turn was unwittingly blocked by Sanders. Prince again hit the side netting, this time from a free kick for a foul on Sykes by Collins, which curled around the wall and curled too far. Collins then fouled Sykes just outside the box. This time, Prince whipped the ball in to the back post and Keeling's header was blocked by Coates, the rebound coming across to Ellington who tried to nod it into the gaping net only for Collins to get enough on it to block on the line. Moments later, and it was Bridgwater clearing off the line, this time from an Ellington volley off a corner.

Prince was in full flight evading clumsy challenges, but Midworth was more determined, and went crashing into Prince right on the edge of the box. Prince took the free kick himself, clipping the wall and winning a corner. It was a corner routine, but ended with Wharton's shot zipping narrowly over.

A goal was definitely on the cards, and it came courtesy of Ellington. Prince evaded the challenges to get to the by-line and whip in a cross. Coates came and couldn't reach, Ellington could, leaping and nodding the cross into the back of the net.

Just before the end of the half, Middleton's cross from the wing rapidly turned into a shot and Pettinger, who?d been a virtual spectator, was called into action to tip the ball away.

The start of the second half saw Garvey come close with a dipping distance shot, but it was Moor Green who got the next goal from the penalty spot. Middleton was running away from goal with Keeling blocking his path, Wharton looked to have got no contact, but must have, for Middleton collapsed and the referee awarded the penalty that Middleton converted himself, down low to the left.

If anything, the goal spurred Celtic to greater heights, and a superb move with the balling switching around the field, and an intricate interchange between Wharton and Prince, and then Prince's low cross which found Ellington cruising in to volley the ball into the back of the net, and Celtic were back in front.

Celtic have obviously learned not to defend the one goal lead, and Field put a corner back into the box after it had been cleared. Sykes latched onto it, turned and shot. Coates? position was excellent, but it was his nose that blocked the shot. Morrison, who had already had a yellow card for a similar offence, slid into Garvey on the edge of the box. Prince slid the free kick sideways to Garvey whose thunderous shot struck the crossbar. Field really should have scored moments later when Sykes laid him off at the edge of the box, and Coates managed to stretch out a toe to deflect the ball over the bar. Sykes was having no joy himself, and Sanders again blocked this time off a prince threaded ball which Sykes lashed towards the bottom corner only to have the Moor Green captain deflect it for a corner. From the corner, Ellington grabbed a well deserved hat-trick when Coates went for the ball, missed it, and Ellington made no mistake.

Moor Green could have pulled one back had Pettinger not been alert. Bridgwater latched onto a loose ball and flashed a shot across the face that the Celtic number one had to tip away.

Celtic completed their rout when Field jinked inside his marker and slid the ball to Price. Price turned and saw a route to goal, so he struck a sweet shot low across the ground and into the bottom corner.

Moor Green brought on all their allowed subs, but it made no difference, and Celtic were triumphant at the full time whistle.

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