Stalybridge Celtic Ladies experienced a nightmare start to their pre-season campaign against Tameside neighbours Ashton United, with the score-line reflecting the difference in quality between the 2 sides. The game started with immediate chances for Ashton United, with Ellie Turner forcing Celtic keeper Emma Burns into a fantastic save just inside the box. However, the collapse of Celtic's defence began in the 13th minute, with midfielder Dolcie O’Connor scoring from a long-distance strike from outside the box. O’Connor added to her opening goal just five minutes later with a second, with another precise strike from outside the area. The third goal came in the 25th minute, after a series of short passes inside the box. After failing to make the breakthrough with a string of blocks, Beth Reeves received the ball from outside the area and volleyed it into the left-corner.
Reeves added to her tally on the half hour mark with another wonder goal for the Robins, this time a long-distance strike into the bottom right corner. Just five minutes later, another long-distanced strike was scored for Ashton, with Mazie Concar putting herself on the score sheet.
Next up was Thai Morely, with a close-range tap into the left corner just before half time. The first half had blown Celtic away and exposed their vulnerability in defence, making for a solemn atmosphere amongst the Celtic faithful and a good day out for the Ashton supporters.
The second half kicked off with no sense of improvement for the Celts, with the home side making it 7-0 in the 53rd minute.
Ella Barnes volleyed the ball into the centre of the goal, with it gently hitting the back of the net. It was a confident goal and was yet another reminder on the gulf of class between the sides. Hannah Robson shortly made it 8-0, with a simple tap-in within the area.
Just two minutes later, on the hour mark, Jody Cunnigham put herself on the scoresheet from a rebound, following a deflection from the Celtic keeper.
There was little energy from the Celtic team at this point, with it being clear the Robins route would not end here.
Double figures were reached by Ashton by just the 65th minute, with Beth Green chipping Emma Burns and providing further embarrassment for the Celtic Ladies.
Three minutes later, Ella Barns grabbed a brace, with a low driven shot into the right corner, taking the score to 11-0.
By the 70th minute, the Robins grabbed yet another goal and their 12th of the afternoon, Johura Akhtar firing from within the area and making it all too easy.
Hannah Robson made it 13-0 with a brace just 2 minutes later, with the Celtic defence seemingly given up at this stage. There was no marking of Ashton players from the defence, leaving the Celtic keeper completely vulnerable to the waves of high pressing, attacking football.
Ashton showed no means of slowing down past the 80th minute mark, with Bryony Harper scoring a simple tap-in from close range, taking the score to 14-0.
A minute later, Harper scored the 15th goal of the afternoon, scoring an impressive brace in the space of just two minutes.
The inevitable 16th goal came at the 85th minute mark, Niamh Fogarty with a simple cut through the Celtic defence, she was met with little resistance and therefore Celtic were further punished. The rout continued deep into the game with Fogarty converting a corner to bring the game up to 17-0.
Thai Morley scored in the build up to full time, following a simple tap in.
The relentless stream of goals finally ended at the death, with captain Jodie Palmer converting a corner just as the full-time whistle was blown.
