Trawden Celtic u17’s lose for the first time at home this season to bogey side Barnoldswick Town.
Barnoldswick Town started the match as if they were there to win. Their great team play kept Celtic pinned in their own half and it only looked a matter of time before they scored. Yet after 12 minutes, with their first attack, Celtic took the lead.
Phil Shaw, after a great run down the left wing crossed into the Town box and found Jack Parker who was playing as emergency striker. Jack controlled the ball with his right foot and hit it into the bottom corner with his left, giving the keeper no chance.
Barnoldswick took control again and equalised ten minutes later when a shot was deflected by a Celtic defender and wrong-footed ‘keeper Simon Lewis. It was all Town now, and after 34 minutes they took the lead. Striker Joe Murphy took a free-kick 25 yards out. The ball hit Callum Whitfield and hit the back of the net. Another deflection, but the lead was thoroughly deserved.
But Celtic went into the break on level terms. Phil Shaw, on the edge of the box with three defenders round him, somehow found some space and sent a great left foot shot into the corner of the net.
Half-time: Celtic 2-2 Town
Barnoldswick, clearly shocked with the Celtic equaliser, came out for the second half with all guns blazing, and within five minutes were 3-2 up. Worse was to come for Celtic as five minutes later Town made it 4-2 after some sloppy defending.
Celtic manager Dave Whitfield immediately made some changes, bringing on Thomas Ellacott and Calvin Anslow, and pushing Callum Whitfield further forward.
It was now Celtic who took control and with twenty minutes to go, they pulled a goal back. Captain Callum Whitfield found himself in acres of space in the Town box, and with the defenders looking for the offside flag, he smashed the ball into the back of the net.
It was all Trawden, and they looked odds-on to get the equaliser. However, some bad luck, good saves and great defending kept them out.
With two minutes to go, Barnoldswick finally got out of their own half and forced a corner. As the ball came in ‘keeper Simon Lewis, with the sun in his eyes, dropped the ball at the feet of a town striker who made no mistake and made it 5-3.
Town made it 6-3 with virtually the last kick of the game. As Celtic pushed up, Joe Murphy got the ball and broke away. He calmly took the ball round Simon Lewis and stroked the ball home.
The score line was a bit harsh on Celtic, but Town thoroughly deserved their win in another pulsating game between these two local foes.