A wonder goal, a jammy goal and a miscommunication sent Celtic out of the FA Trophy.

Though the scoreline flattered Lower Breck, Celtic didn’t really do enough to win, so the result was fair. With five goal hero Ruben Jerome out injured, Benni Smales-Braithwaite spearheaded Celtic’s attack, looking to reclaim his top spot for golden boot, and he nearly did, ten minutes in with a corker of a shot from thirty-five yards which dipped over Theo Roberts, hit the underside of the bar and went in, only for Jack Irlam flagged offside in a dubious call. For the visitors, Sam Burns forced Charlie Monks into a routine stop, whilst former Celt, Jordan Barrow, forced a better one. Roberts bettered the save denying Liam Tongue with a one-handed palm over the bar. Jack Tinning tried turning in a corner, but Roberts was well placed, and in an end-to-end first half, Jordan Buckley’s angled rocket required a flying save from Monks.

With only minutes left in the half, Sam Burns found some space in the corner of the box, and curled his shot to the opposite top corner of the goal, leaving Monks no chance with a wonderful goal. Time enough left in the half for Smales-Braithwaite to hit the bar again with another dipping shot, this time, the ball rebounding out and getting cleared.

Lower Breck started the second half at speed. Harry McGee forcing Monks into a great stop, before Celtic clawed their way back into it and Jack Tinning trying his luck for a wonder goal, shooting from forty yards and seeing Roberts pull of an even better save. A bit of luck fell Breck’s way, when Harry McGee was dispossessed by Mike Koral only for the ball to bounce back right into his path, and with everybody wrong footed, McGee still had to pull off a decent shot, and found the back of the net.

Tinning had another shot cleared off the line from a corner before Sam Barnes intercepted a back-pass and walked the ball past Monks. Deep into stoppage time, a harsh penalty, should have put the visitors four up, but Charlie Wheeler’s spot kick was well over the bar, the stand and Mottram. Three or four, Celtic are still out.