Stalybridge Celtic's defensive frailties surfaced again in a match they should really win and another three points were thrown away.

Only days after the forwards had failed to secure the game at Droylsden, this time it was the turn of the defence to gift-wrap victory for the opposition in an increasingly frustrating season.

Early on Matty McNeil - as ever a handful - created chance after chance but failed to capitalise and with Winfield Steele also squandering a good opportunity, Celtic's early pressure counted for nothing.

A goal, however, duly arrived when Mark Earnshaw was left unmarked at a corner to head past a static defence. The goal shook Celtic but never-the-less they grabbed an equaliser seven minutes into the second half courtesy of a powerful header from Kevin Parr.

However, Frickley calmly retook the lead when a magnificent Hanby pass picked out Gary Hatto and the header, from way out, sailed over a stranded Gary Ingham.

Celtic had to start again but after 74 minutes Frickley increased their lead when Hayward turned in the box to hook the ball past Ingham and Celtic's hopes seemed to have ended.

Enter the prodigal son, Martin Filson, recalled due to an injury crisis. Within minutes he had thumped a scorching goal and then he went past a defender with a deftness which defied his size and crashed a shot onto the bar and down onto the line.

That was as close as Celtic got and the fans weren't happy.