Celtic make it three wins in a row

Stalybridge Celtic made it three wins in a row and back to back league wins after overcoming a resilient Trafford side at Bower Fold through a Matty Bryan second-half goal.

A dominant first 60 minutes saw Bryan slot home from a corner before a late Trafford fight back nearly caused Celtic a scare. 

Celtic’s numerous chances began almost from kick off, with Connor O’Grady missing by inches, firing a corner across the face of goal. 

Max Leonard was able to find the target, but his bicycle kick lacked the power to beat Brad Rose in the Trafford net and Jack Irlam saw a curling shot from the edge of the box dragged wide of the goal in what was Celtic’s best change of the half.

Celtic finally converted almost immediately after the interval. Aaron Dwyer’s corner was flicked on by Leonard into the path of Bryan at the back post. Bryan stabbed the ball into the net to give Celtic a deserved lead.

It wasn’t as straightforward as that though and Trafford dug in as they searched for an equaliser. Though Celtic never looked in any danger, it is always dangerous taking a one-nil lead into the latter stages of the game. 

Trafford saw a claim for handball turned down and the visitors did find the back of the net although a strike from Mike Burke was harshly ruled out with the officials ruling the ball had gone out of play on the far side of the pitch. 

Celtic had a penalty claim of their own turned down after Dwyer was brought down inside the Trafford penalty area when one on one with the Trafford keeper and also had a goal scoring opportunity where both Dwyer and Bryan were in on goal with only the keeper to beat in a two v one move, but the attack was stopped for offside which appeared to be incorrect.  

Trafford came close to snatching a draw with striker Eddie Servuts from an acute angle hitting the underside of the bar but Celtic saw the remaining minutes out to record a third straight win.