Stalybridge Celtic edge past Mossley in Manchester Premier Cup

Local football fans were treated to a Tameside derby on Tuesday night (October 17) as Stalybridge Celtic took on Mossley in the Manchester Premier Cup.

Hosts Celtic were looking to build on an emphatic 4-3 win away to Newcastle Town at the weekend, whilst visitors Mossley were desperate to turn around their fortunes having lost three in a row prior to this fixture.

It was Mossley who came out of the blocks the quickest under the Bower Fold lights when the in-form Oumar Camara latched onto a ball over the top and volleyed it home. But the goal was swiftly disallowed after the referee spotted a handball in the build-up.

This disallowed goal seemed to kick the home side into gear as they began to dominate proceedings, creating a flurry of chances. Celtic were beginning to get a lot of joy down the right-hand side through winger Obua Mugalula, who got past his man on a number of occasions, most notably when he produced a lovely bit of skill to evade his marker late in the first half, unleashing a fierce shot from the edge of the box that flew just over the crossbar.

Moments later Mugalula was involved again, and was inches away from scoring the goal of his life when his acrobatic overhead kick was tipped over by Finlay Madigan in the Mossley goal.

The Lilywhites came out strong in the second half, putting Celtic under huge pressure in the early moments. They came close to breaking the deadlock just before the hour mark when Keaton Mulvey’s 25-yard effort looked destined to nestle in the top corner, only for Luke Hewitson to deny Mossley’s number 7 with a wonderful flying save.

With 20 minutes to go, hosts Celtic took the lead against the run of play when Lucas Cook’s volley rebounded back to substitute Jack Irlam, who was in the right place at the right time to tap the ball home.

Despite their best efforts, the away side could not manage to find an equaliser, though they went very close to doing so two minutes from time when Mulvey’s flick-on was met by Camara, whose header cannoned back off the bar.

A hard-fought victory for Celtic, and a much-needed clean sheet that manager James Kinsey will be delighted with, having conceded eight goals in their last two. They will now face Trafford in the quarter-final of the Manchester Premier Cup, away from home, and welcome the same opposition to Bower Fold this Saturday, in a league meeting.

As for Mossley, it’s now four losses in a row for them, and things don’t get any easier this weekend when they welcome the in-form Leek Town to Seel Park.