Browse Sections

• Local football
• Local cricket

Kettering Town 0 Stalybridge Celtic 1

Trefor Williams
23/ 1/2008

CELTIC’S resurgence continues with a stunning victory at the runaway league leaders.

There was no fluke about their eighth consecutive league win, as although the winner came late on, it was no more than Steve Burr’s battlers deserved.

They had been dealt what seemed a hefty blow when, in the second minute, they lost inspirational captain Steve Payne with a calf injury, allowing recent recruit Garry Burke to make a debut.

The Poppies almost took the lead in the fourth minute, Ashley Wooliscroft diverting Craig Westcarr’s cross to safety via the crossbar.

At the other end, Ashley Winn twice tested Lee Harper with fierce efforts while the keeper did well to turn aside Andy Smart’s wicked effort.

Paddy Gamble did superbly to turn aside a close range shot from Marna before Chris Hall headed narrowly wide.

The action reached a crescendo before the break when Hall was put through, only for Harper to superbly block his effort, before Lee Ellington headed wide from Wooliscroft’s fine cross.

Gamble clung on brilliantly to Marna’s fierce drive before Hall missed the ball six yards in front of a gaping Kettering goal.

The second half was a real ding-dong affair with neither side taking a backward step.

Chances were at a premium with Westcarr volleying narrowly wide but Burr’s attacking intentions were crystal clear when he made a late attacking double substitution.

The winner arrived in the 87th minute when Carlos Roca fed James Dean for the latter to fire home a swerving drive to send the large and vociferous travelling contingent into paroxysms of delight, serving notice to the rest of the league that Celtic really do mean business.

Attendance: 1,633