Celtic's good away form this season continued at Irongate with a crushing 4-1 victory against lowly Bamber. The home team couldn't compete with Celtic's brilliant display of attacking football and in particular Andy Mason, who celebrated his return to form with a stunning hat-trick.

The Blues stamped their authority on the game as early as the fifth minute when Mason latched on to a loose ball to put Celtic in front. How the rest of the first half failed to produce another goal for the Bower Boys I will never know, but as it stood Celtic went into the break with only a very slender one goal lead, although Ingham had been a virtual spectator.

The second half saw Celtic finally take advantage of the chances that came their way and they even had the pleasure of watching the 'own goal of the season' go sailing into the opposition's net. Maddock somehow managed to place a diving header past his own keeper from all of 20 yards. Mason sealed his hat-trick on 75 minutes before Bamber managed to grab a consolation with just under 10 minutes remaining.

Celtic won comfortably but it could have been much more.