With three players out, Celtic struggled to get into rhythm, but still had too much for Trafford.

Until ten minutes before the interval, Celtic created only one real chance: Aaron Chalmers getting onto a free kick, but firing wide. Ten minutes left in the half, and Celtic reorganised, looking much stronger for it, starting with a goal. Ellis Horan’s free kick was superbly saved by Charlie Brier, pushing the ball onto the juncture of post and crossbar. Jack Irlam, alert to the rebound, nipped in and fired in the opener, and he could have made it two, his header from a free kick well saved by Brier. At the other end, Trafford did work a couple of chances at the half’s death, James Butterworth well over and Scott Sephton well wide.

The second half saw Celtic look the stronger. Andy Scarisbrick and Horan going close, before Ruben Jerome burst through, only to be dispossessed in the six-yard box, the ball coming to Horan who smashed in Celtic’s second. Conservation of energy was Celtic’s watchword after the cushion goal, and though Kyle Worsley shot over after a good Trafford move, and Scott Sephton’s shot almost went for a throw-in, Trafford never really threatened, and Irlam had a couple of good chances, but lost out in a last-ditch tackle for one and fired the other wide. Despite the more reserved performance, it was enough and Celtic leap-frogged Runcorn, to go third, a point behind Avro in second.