SAD CELTIC SURVIVAL HOPES TAKE A NOSEDIVE

WARRINGTON RY 1 STALYBRIDGE C 0

By Megan Grey

MATT SARGENT scored the only goal of the game as Warrington Rylands beat relegation-threatened Stalybridge Celtic.

Rylands started the game on the front foot and went close after eight minutes, the shot going just wide.

Rylands were on top but their pressure didn’t tell until the 42nd minute. Anis Zaknoue gave away possession, and Sargent made no mistake.

Rylands were well on top and only a string of good saves from Celtic goalkeeper Joe O’Shaughnessy kept his team in the game.

Celtic made a triple substition just after the hour mark, which had more than a hint of desperation about it. Zaknoune, Curtis Morrison and Chris Dagnall went off, replaced Mo Ali, Harry Benns and Djavan Pedro.

The changes made no real difference. Celtic failed to threaten the Rylands goal.

The best chance of the second half – the only one of note – fell to Rylands. Joe Adams ran through and hit the post. The rebound fell to Sargent, who hit the other side of the same post before O’Shaughnessy collected.

Celtic go into their final two games of the season needing snookers to avoid relegation, but on this showing, it’s already too late for them.

STAR MAN: Mo Touray (Warrington Rylands)

ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★