Match Report -
Celtic lose at home to Basford
By Deborah Taylor

Celtic fell to goals early in each half, unable to find a reply and continue their hunt for a goal in open play.

It could have been different had Scott Bakkor's early effort gone in off the woodwork instead of out, but instead, Basford got the goal. After a low drive from Jack Ryan was collected by Adam Collin in the United nets, Kane Richards brought a lofted ball down well, putting in a low cross for Aaron O'Connor to side foot in at the far post.

Celtic attempted to get back into the game through new signing Kieran Wells latched onto a free kick and forced Collin into an excellent save. The rebound came to Ioan Evans, his skimming drive unwittingly put around the post by Declan Dunn. Celtic's pressure continued until time in the half ran out, with Bakkor attempting to run the ball along the line and in, and Wells and Douglas Nyaupembe both clearing the bar.

The second half started badly as Stephen O'Halloran slid through the back of Ravenelle James just outside the six-yard box conceding a penalty that Aaron O'Connor fired home after a stumbling run, though Lewis Hood went the right way.

This made Celtic's comeback harder against a stonewall defence. Scott Bakkor thought he had won Celtic their own penalty when Brad Gascoigne brought him down, but a free kick was given touching the white line of the box with Nyaupembe firing the free kick over the bar. Wells came the closest for Celtic, with a stooping header from a corner, but Collin was well placed and O'Halloran was a whisker away with a returned volley off a cleared corner, however, Celtic continue to struggle to get their season started.

1Collin, Adam  
2Betts, OwenYellow Card 
3Wilson, Ryan  
4Roma, Dominic  
5Gascoigne, Brad  
6Dunn, DeclanYellow Card 
7Hawkridge, Terry  
8Howes, Alex  > 85
9OConnor, Aaron  > 73
10Richards, Kane  > 81
11James, RavenelleYellow Card 
12Clifton, James  < 85
14Scott, Josh  < 73
15Fyfe, Rico  < 81
16Peters, Nathanial  
17Pierrepoint, Jordan