Match Report -
Away Loss At Harrogate
By Debbie Taylor

Celtic's dominant performance in the first half resulted in one goal, that was swept aside by a much stronger second half performance from Harrogate.

Celtic's first chance fell to Aidan Chippendale, curling wide, whilst at the other end, Simon Ainge fired straight at Tony McMillan. The opener came twenty-five minutes after a neatly worked corner routine saw Danny Owens take it short, receive it back and loft a ball to the back post where Andy Owens powered in and loft his header over Peter Crook.

A ferocious thirty yard shot from Chippendale had Crook beaten all ends up, and it smashed back off the underside of the crossbar and was cleared. At the other end, Joe Leesley should have done better when he latched onto a low cross, and side footed quite wide of the far post.

Harrogate had to have been given a rocket at half time, as they came out of the starting blocks at speed. It wasn't long before they were level, a ball out from a packed defence to Andi Thanoj and his instant twenty-five yard effort bent beautifully into the top corner.

After Chippendale and Shea Gordon had both gone close, Jean-Paul Pittman was given too much space to pick his spot, firing beyond the reach of Tony McMillan from just outside the box. If that was too much space than Dominic Knowles didn't really have any space at all, but still managed to turn and curl an effort in off the underside of the bar.

Celtic finished the game strongly, and it took two great saves from Crook to keep the scoreline in Harrogate's favour, the two new signings, Adam Mather and Gary Gee both having cracking efforts that required Crook to be on top form.

Despite the defeat, it felt positive.

1Crook, Peter  
2Colbeck, Joe  
3Turner, Lewis  
4Burrell, Warren  
5Ainge, Simon  
6Shiels, LukeYellow Card 
7Emmett, Jack  > 46
8Platt, Tom  
9Pittman, Jean Paul  > 80
10Knowles, Dominic  > 78
11Leesley, Joe  
12Ellis, Danny  
14Chilaka, Chib  < 78
15Robertson, Jordan  < 80
16Thanoj, Andi  < 46
17Stewart, Tom