The first half was more even, with Celtic looking the dominant team, and forced Mark Bell into several saves, one a superb reaction save. Early on from Dave Hankin, followed up by a another smart stop from Michael Carr, Andy Smart flashing the spilled ball wide. Just before half time, and the dangerous former target of Celtic, Paul Brayson, held off Richard Battersby to latch onto Richard Tait’s hoofed clearance, and go one-on-one with Dave Carnell, and chipped it past the Celtic keeper.

The second half saw Celtic come out looking half the side they were when they went in, and early into the half Mark Donninger headed wide and saw John Hardiker block on the line. Celtic looked like they might get back into the game, Dave Hankin’s free kick was met by Michael Carr, who smashed the ball home. This gave Celtic a bit of hope, and only a wicked deflection prevented Hankin putting Celtic one up.

Carnell saved superbly from Brayson from a Blyth corner, only for Chris McCabe to stab home from close range; Celtic fell apart and Blyth went rampant. The Celtic defence were left looking at each other when Ian Graham snuck in on a near post cross to head home with a diving header, and Dave Carnell was called into action to keep the score respectable, until Blyth passed the ball around Celtic to put John Alexander through on goal to tap home a Brayson cross for the coup de grace. Joe O’Neill had a late chance hacked clear off the line, but it was never going to be enough.

The result is Celtic’s first defeat since August in the league.