Celtic fight back to earn victory at Bamber Bridge

BetVictor Premier Division: Bamber Bridge 2-3 Stalybridge Celtic

Celtic scored three second-half goals to overturn a 2-0 deficit as they beat Bamber Bridge 3-2 for the second time this season.

Bamber Bridge took the lead after 13 minutes. James Dean showed good composure as he took the ball past Chris Smalley, cut inside and fired past Fojticek. Dean nearly made it two moments later. This time cutting infield from the right, Fojticek was on hand to save his tame effort.

The home side did add another on 22 minutes. A cross from the right-hand side was headed home by Dean. It could have been three, on 30 minutes. A low ball in from the left was side footed wide by Alistair Waddecar from yards out. Just before the break, Neil Kengni sent a low cross in from the left which just evaded Darius Osei.

The Brigs took a two goal lead into the break.

It took a while for Celtic to get going after the restart. On 63 minutes, substitute Scott Bakkor sent in a cross from the right after beating his man however Rigby claimed the ball ahead of Osei.

Just a minute later, Celtic got a goal back. Jack O’Leary played a short corner to Walker, his accurate cross was headed into the back of the net by Osei. The rest of the second half was all Celtic as they pushed for an equaliser.

On 78 minutes they were rewarded.

The ball fell to Osei in the penalty area, he turned to face goal and fired a powerful strike past Rigby, drawing Celtic level. Celtic were in the ascendancy and on 80 minutes, took the lead for the first time in the game.

Osei dribbled into the penalty area and drilled a low cross across goal, which was diverted goalwards by Craig Hobson.

In the second minute of added time, Chris Marlow was dismissed by the referee. He received two yellow cards in 30 seconds, the first for a foul on Hobson and the second for a altercation with Bakkor. Celtic stood firm during the final added minutes and the turn around was complete, Celtic finished the game 3-2 winners.

By Taran Dhamrait