Although not a classic, Celtic finally break their Runcorn hoodoo. Only a paltry 178 are there to see it though (apparently Corrie was good tonight!) Mind you I could have been at the wrong place. The pitch resembled Morecambe Beach in parts.
After only 3 mins a Runcorn player is sent off for deliberate handball, when blocking a certain goal.
Eastwood steps up but the keeper makes a good save.
Wharton scored after 13 mins with his left foot.
Runcorn awarded a pen 4 mins later for a mistimed tackle, which Watson scores high into the top corner.
Hallows restores the lead when following up a Chris Denham shot which was well saved.
Eastwood makes it 3 on the stroke of half time with a nice drive.
Runcorn score on 62 mins and Celtic then do their usual trick off making you sweat nervously as they fail to convert chance after chance.
Bowman is stretchered off right after the death but thankfully the injury didn't look to bad.
Eastwood makes the game safe in injury time with a break away goal.
Dootson hardly had a save to make. Wharton seemed industrious in midfield and Hallows continues to score in every game since his return. Infuriatingly the tendency to be intricate in and around the box means the finishing at times is profligate (Eastwood could have had at least 5!)
At least we are now in the final though which is a good chance for silverware after a successful season. The performance may not have been great, but its one of the best I've seen against Runcorn and in cups it's the results that count, not the performance.
Roll on the final! BE it against Wakefield or Ashton, who play on the 18th of March.