It was Macclesfield who had the better of the chances in the opening half, with Paul Phillips doing well to deny Jamie Tolley's half volley midway through the first half. Just before the interval, Steve Torpey had the best chance for Celtic, with the impressive Isaac Read twice called upon to block on the line efforts from the Celtic winger.

The second half was played in much the same vein, but less than ten minutes in, after Paul Sykes had slid in to block an initial Tolley shot, still on the floor a low drive into the box struck Sykes on the arm ? there was nothing Sykes could have done about it, but a penalty was awarded, and Terry Dunfield's penalty was low and down the middle, with Phillips diving it was the opening goal.

Macclesfield had a purple patch, with Celtic chasing shadows, and in this period, Phillips had to collect bravely at Simon Yeo's feet, and then Yeo beat him with a curling effort that thudded off the post. A dummy from Yeo gave him half a yard and a low cross through the box gave Tolley a tap in.

With less than ten minutes on the clock, Celtic could have had a hat full, with McGuire skimming the ball just past the post after Chris Williams had beaten his man to put the low cross in, and Matty Barlow's shot went straight into Johnny Brain's midriff after Barlow had shown quick feet to get into a shooting position.

There was also some lovely interchanging between Chris Williams and Greg Wilkinson which was enthralling to watch, indicating that things are starting to click with just one week left before the start of the season.

Celtic lined up from: Phillips, Woolliscroft, Wood, Keeling, Barwick, Sykes, Torpey, Briggs, Joynes, Ellington, Williams, Wilkinson, Platt, O'Callaghan, McGuire, O'Connor, Wood, Barlow