In a stop start game, Celtic failed to convert their half-chances while Clitheroe converted theirs.

Early in the game, Celtic were creating the chances, with Lewis Rawsthorn’s low shot deflected in a crowded box for a corner. Jack Irlam and Joe Duckworth both went close before Liam Isherwood earned his pay, denying a blast from Brandon Newell, before pushing Irlam’s header round the post. While attacking again, Clitheroe broke, Linni Cirino getting into the box. He pulled the ball back to Leon Creech unmarked at the back post. Creech had to stretch but got enough on the ball to put it in the net. Clitheroe immediately began game management, frustrating Celtic. Despite that, Celtic still carved out two more half chances, Max Leonard volleyed over from the edge of the box, and Irlam’s superb cross reached Duckworth, but his flicked header flew narrowly wide.

The second half started evening, Rawsthorn close, but Isherwood there to deny him and hold the ball, whilst Charlie Monk was pulled into action twice in quick succession, denying Emerich Poilly and Vernon Parry. With the home side taking every opportunity to slow the game to a glacial pace, Celtic struggled. When chances did come, Isherwood proved up to the task, holding the ball as Duckworth came in. Six minutes of stoppages were to be played, and Celtic finally broke through in the first of them, Duckworth’s blast from close range latching onto Elliott Rokka’s threaded through ball as both teams massed around the Clitheroe box. Again, Isherwood made a great stop, but the couldn’t hold it, the loose ball reached by Irlam first to smash into the back of the net. Irlam came close to winning it for Celtic in the last of the touch of the game, getting his head onto Jordan Butterworth’s free kick, but missed the target by an inch.