Match Report -
Manchester City, very very good
By Iain Benson
Celtic's 7-1 beating of Macclesfield Town was beaten today by a very accomplished Manchester City's defeat of Celtic of 7-0, but in neither game, was the score-line the important part, it was all about the performance, and Celtic gave a very encouraging performance.

Robert Mac had the better of the defence for City's opening goal, racing one-on-one and making no mistake, before reproducing it off a cleared corner, shrugging off Andy Smart who did well to catch him, before he curled the ball past Paul Phillips. Between the two Warren Peyton forced Gunner Neilson into a decent stop with a low drive, the save not a patch on Phillips minutes later as James Pool fired in a half volley that the Celtic keeper did well to palm away.

As the half went into the last ten minutes, Celtic started to look the better side, and should have been awarded a penalty when McDermott clearly palmed the ball over his own bar,with the goalkeeper no where near. Peyton came very close twice, once off a superb pass from Battersby that he put inches wide, and the second cleared off the line by Ben Mee after he curled Barlow's cross toward goal. O'Neill was put in by a perfect weighted Barlow square ball, but Neilson pulled off a great save to keep City's two goal cushion at half time.

Celtic made the usual swathe of changes, and Pool took advantage with what has to be described as a very good goal, shrugging off Kay, turning and shooting all in one motion. O'Neill, just before going off, again forced the keeper into a good save, before Robert Mak found his third with a snap shot after a defensive mix-up. Connor Jennings forced the City keeper into a scrambled save with a low drive from the edge of the box, before Alex Nimley stole the ball and fired past Ryan Moss who'd come on to replace Phillips. City finished the stronger, and were gifted to goals at the death, the first nobody picking up Scott Kay at the back post to nod in Pool's cross, and the second a poor back pass picked up by Dave Ball who made no mistake.

All in all, an entertaining game in front of a decent crowd.

Celtic lined up from: Paul Phillips, Richard Battersby, Andy Smart, John Hardiker, Greg Wilkinson, Steve Woods, Dave Hankin, Keith Briggs, Joe O'Neill, Matty Barlow, Warren Peyton, Barrie Keeling, Michael Bowler, Connor Jennings, Graeme Law, Mike Fish, Usabio, Matt Moore, Nathan Finnigan, Ryan Moss, Brad Byrne.