Celtic had to weather the storm of Clitheroe’s late onslaught, but came away from Lancashire with three points.

Former Celts, Domaine Rouse and Sefton Gonzales caused early problems for Celtic, with Rouse forcing Luke Hewitson into a save just past the quarter hour. Celtic, however, gelled in this match.

Quick movement undid Clitheroe. Obua Mugalula used pace and strength to get down his wing, sending an inch perfect ball right into the stride of Jordan Burton, who finished with a thumping strike straight past Hakan Burton. It was only the acrobatics of Hakan Burton, who kept Celtic from running riot in the rest of the half, denying Mugalula’s powerful effort, holding onto the ball under pressure. Mugalula’s low drive after cutting inside whistled past the post the closest Celtic came to extending their lead.

Celtic had to weather the storm of Clitheroe’s late onslaught, but came away from Lancashire with three points courtesy of a super strike from Jordan Burton.

Former Celts, Domaine Rouse and Sefton Gonzales caused early problems for Celtic, with Rouse forcing Luke Hewitson into a save just past the quarter hour.

Celtic, however, gelled in this match and some quick movement and skill undid Clitheroe. Obua Mugalula used his pace and strength to get down the wing, sending an inch perfect ball over the defence right into the stride of Jordan Burton, he took a touch before firing a curling striker over the top of Hakan Burton to put Celtic ahead.

It was only the acrobatics of Hakan Burton, who kept Celtic from running riot in the rest of the half, denying Mugalula’s powerful effort, holding onto the ball under pressure. Mugalula’s low drive after cutting inside whistled past the post and was the closest Celtic came to extending their lead.

The second half started with Aaron Dwyer trying a cheeky forty-yard effort with Hakan Burton off his line, but the stopper got back to deny him.

Hakan Burton was there again, as he just reached Brad Byrne’s curling drive as the hour mark approached.

Clitheroe rejigged their line-up, bringing on Veron Parny and switching to three upfront. Parny set up first Alex Henderson and then Gonzales as Clitheroe took back control of the match.

Parny went agonisingly close for the home side, with 20 minutes to go, with the game threatening to descend into a melee.

Mugalula sat the last 10 minutes out, but his replacement, Bruno Filipe, made an immediate impact. His first shot whistled past the post, but his second required a flying block from Hakan Burton.

Burton was again called into action at the start of eight minutes of stoppages, keeping out Dwyer’s rocket.

Clitheroe played much of the rest of stoppage time around Celtic’s box. Gonzales could have equalised with his header flying over the bar, and the offside flag saved Celtic’s bacon, but Hewitson’s stop in the 97th minute proved vital, as Parny’s angled drive at the near post required an exceptional save.

Despite players pilling into the box for the corner, Celtic survived and came away with a clean sheet and three points.