Stalybridge Celtic recorded a superb 2-0 victory over promotion hopefuls Bamber Bridge after goals from Ntumba Massanka and Callum Harris.

A goal in each half saw Celtic deserved winners with the hosts being limited to one shot on target despite plenty of possession. The win capped off a good week for Celtic who also picked up a point away at inform Morpeth.

Celtic started the game brightly with the attacking quartet of Harris, Justin Johnson, Massanka and Raul Correia looking extremely dangerous.

On seven minutes, Celtic gained possession of the ball in the final third, Massanka sent a curling shot towards goal from just outside the area which was tipped over the bar by Mateusz Hewelt.

Five minutes later and Celtic took the lead. A stunning run from Johnson saw him take on and beat four Bamber Bridge defenders, he glided into the penalty area and squared the ball for Massanka who powered the ball past Hewelt to give Celtic the lead.

Celtic went close to a second on 27 minutes after Massanka connected with an Ash Smith-Brown free-kick, heading just wide via a deflection.

The hosts began to have more of the ball but Celtic’s defence stood firm with Connor O’Grady and Keenan Quansah easily dealing with masses of crosses and balls into the box.

Bamber Bridge did have the ball in the back of the net two minutes before the break but they did so from an offside position.

Celtic could have doubled their lead straight after the restart. Harris was picked out from the right-hand side just inside the penalty area in a central position however his effort rose just over the crossbar.

Paul Dawson and Matthew Thomson saw headed efforts miss the target before Celtic were given the opportunity to score a second from the spot.

Correia chipped the ball into the path of Harris, he drove into the penalty area before being brought down by Macauley Wilson.

Harris stepped up and took the penalty and beat Hewelt to give Celtic a two goal lead on 71 minutes.

Liam Hughes had to make one vital save towards the end of the game, racing out of his goal quickly to take the ball from the feet of an attacker to preserve Celtic’s clean sheet.

Celtic had chances on the break to score a third goal but it didn’t matter as Bamber Bridge couldn’t break Celtic’s impressive defence and Celtic took a huge three points back to Tameside against the fourth placed team.