Celtic keep play-off hopes alive

Stalybridge Celtic kept their NPL West play-off hopes alive on Saturday with a 2-1 win at home to promotion chasing rivals Chasetown. 

Hosts Celtic made a lightning quick start to proceedings, opening the scoring on six minutes when Jordan Butterworth’s corner was powered home by the head of Lewis Rawsthorn. 

The in-form striker then made it two early in the second half, latching onto a ball over the top from Jack Irlam and firing across goal into the bottom corner. 

Rawsthorn could have had his hat trick soon after, but he saw his shot blocked before Irlam blazed over on the follow up. 

Irlam was involved again moments before the end when he and Joe Duckworth had efforts cleared off the line in quick succession. 

Visitors Chasetown then pulled one back deep into added time when Danny O’Callaghan headed in from a corner, but the home side managed to hold on and seal a crucial win. 

“I’m delighted with the three points,” Celtic boss Jon Macken told the club’s YouTube channel following the win. 

“They’re a really good side, but I thought we defended well and created a lot of chances. 

“They were both great finishes from Lewis [Rawsthorn], and to a man, I thought everyone worked really hard to get the win.”  

The victory now leaves Macken’s side five points behind The Chase, who occupy the final play-off spot, ahead of a trip to Witton Albion this weekend.