Celtic Slump To Heavy Defeat

NPL Premier Division: Gainsborough Trinity 4-0 Stalybridge Celtic

Celtic took a beating from Gainsborough, offering little in the way of resistance.

In the opening minutes, Clayton Donaldson showed his ability with a shot that required Greg Hall to be at his best, not only blocking the shot, but scrambling to gather up the loose ball before Jack Dyche could pounce. Donaldson’s movement undid Celtic at the quarter hour mark, as Curtis Durose pulled a ball back from the touchline for Donaldson to simply tap in. There was no looking back for Trinity. Hall again had to fly through the air to deny the former league striker, but was left terribly exposed when Dyche won out on a challenge for Finn Shrimpton’s ball, leaving Dahrius Waldron behind, Dyche one-on-one with Hall. Hall almost but not quite denied Dyche with a stuck out foot, but Dyche managed to reach the ball and turn it in for the second.

Seven minutes later, and Celtic were undone again far too simply. This time, Donaldson put through one-on-one after Dyche intercepted a poor pass and this time Hall got nowhere near.

Celtic did have chances in the match. Early on, Godwin Abadaki fired wide after some decent build up play and with seconds on the clock, Ethan Padden’s powerful header off a corner should have reduced the deficit, but he too, missed.

The second half looked to have started badly as Abadaki’s second caution resulted in his dismissal. However, three goals and a player to the good saw the hosts ease off a little, taking off Dyche, but replacing him with Tom Cursons who’s first touch was to try for goal, only for Hall to make a comfortable stop, and his second gave Donaldson another one-on-one, giving Trinity a four goal cushion. Donaldson was rested at the hour mark having done the damage. Ironically, Celtic’s best spell came as Trinity re-organised. Cameron Darkwah finally breached the Trinity backline during a spell of pressure, only for his goal-bound shot to be cleared off the line by Shrimpton. With still half an hour to go, Celtic created nothing else and Gainsborough were content to contain the visitors.