Match Report -
Only ourselves to blame
By Debbie Taylor

Celtic looked jaded as they faced Blyth Spartans at Croft Park. Desperately in need of a win to stay ahead of the bottom three, there was not enough left in the tank to stop high flying Blyth.

Celtic's best chance of the half fell to Matty Barlow who latched onto a Neil Prince through ball, but Adam Bartlett made a cracking stop. Most of the action was at the other end, with Aron Wilford missing a sitter in front of an open goal, and Christian Graham heading the wrong side of the post off a Robbie Dale cross. Celtic just couldn't get going, and looked like they were playing for a goalless draw.

In a rate moment in the second half, Celtic did attack, when Grant Black got forward for Celts, and was the grateful recipient of an inch perfect Neil Prince cross, but Bartlett saved superbly well from Black's first time volley, though he had to react quickly as Lee Ellington pounced on the loose ball. It was too little though, and Blyth were looking for the winner that could put them into the play-offs.

As the game wore on, Celtic's plan of a goalless draw was looking good, but it required a great stop from Simon Bishop to deny Bell on the volley, and there was a lucky escape when Bell arrived at the back post onto a Ben Christien cross, only to scuff wide.

The goalless draw vanished minutes from time when Robbie Dale got down the left wing and whipped in a cross, substitute Richard Hodgson arrived with a stooped header and put Blyth into the lead.

Celtic looked beaten after the goal, and threat of relegation looms.