[themaclad]

Lancaster City 1 Stalybridge Celtic 0 Att 354

The first visit of the season to City's Giant Axe ground to take on their visitors from Greater Manchester, Stalybridge Celtic, these two sides were two divisions apart with Celtic being relegated from the Conference North and City being promoted from the Evo Stick North.
The two sides hadn't met for many years, in fact one of the last meetings between the two sides was a cup final which was played in slightly farcical fashion as Celtic won it by if memory serves me right 11-0 as City took the opportunity to play their Under 18 side against Celtic's first team, didn't go down with league officials that one.
Spent some of my early years watching Celtic travelled all over the place which means I once went to Mossley, were I saw a player sent off for the first time. Celtic player Geoff Fry bopped a Mossley defender and off he went.
Spent the first half watching the game surrounded by Celtic officials and support strange that they had an entirely different wiews as to what was happening on the field.
Personal view it was an extremely poor game of football, early exchanges Celtic had the better of what little goal mouth action there was however both sides were guilty of being aerial especially as there was a strong breeze blowing across the pitch. City took the lead following a good run by Harries whose shot cannoned upwards when it eventually returned to earth the waiting Kilifin was there to put the ball into the net.
Celtic pressed and still looked the more likely and were denied by a finger tip save onto the post by Powell after a shot from the edge of the box.
The second half was just as bad although for a period of about 15 minutes towards the end it did reach mildly entertaing level only just though.
Mercer was unlucky just failing to reach a corner which from close range he steered over the bar and Kilifin should have done better following another decent run by the impressive Harries.
Celtic had one effort which was saved by Powell when Ennis shot from the edge of the box, however they never looked like getting level and following the defeat remain bottom whilst City remain unbeaten.
Finally just a heads up to the Celticofficial youngish lad with a beard the word Legend on the stand is there for a reason next time give it the respects it deserves.