Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 1 - 2 DROYLSDEN

Nationwide North, Saturday 30th December 2006

Report by Gary Owen

Droylsden recorded the league 'double' over their Tameside neighbours in the Bower Fold mud, and few would deny they were good value for the three points. Indeed, Celtic will be pleased that the margin of defeat was not greater given the charmed life which Paul Pettinger's goal experienced, particularly in the second half. However, credit is due to both sides who tried to play football throughout in very difficult conditions both on and above the pitch.

The first real chance fell to the visitors on 24 minutes, when Gareth Morris found Jody Banim, but his lofted effort over Pettinger was headed clear off the line by home debutante, Mike Flynn.

Just before the half hour mark, Dominic Krief saw his shot fly over the Droylsden goal, before a quick throw-in by former Blood, Steve Brodie, put Neil Prince away. However, his low cross was cut-out by Garry Burke just as Lee Ellington was about to pounce.

Pettinger then saved a Burke header and a long range effort from Kevin Lynch, before Celtic almost snatched the lead after a game of pinball on the edge of the Bloods' box, but Craig Robinson managed to block Brodie's shot.

Droylsden opened the scoring in added time at the end of the first half, when Pettinger failed to hold a low strike from Jamie Tandy, spilling the ball to Steve Jagielka who converted.

The Bloods almost doubled their lead straight from the re-start, when Banim's toe-poked effort came back off Pettinger's left hand upright from Terry Fearns' low cross. Moments later, Banim caught Paul Sykes in possession, exchanged passes with Fearns, but then delayed his shot and was tackled when all others were waiting for him to shoot.

Pettinger then cleared his lines from Fearns after he had been played in with a great pass from Lynch, but Stalybridge will wonder how they didn't level matters on 56 minutes. With the Bloods' defence expecting an offside flag, Ellington probably had too much time in front of goal, but Paul Phillips made a great one-on-one stop low to his left to deny the Celts' leading marksman.

Droylsden then kept Pettinger busy at the other end, firstly through Fearns and then from Banim, who beat three men only for his former team-mate to deny him with a super stop with his legs. The Stalybridge custodian then saved a Jagielka header and a piledriver from Morris before Droylsden finally managed to add a second goal. Fearns beat Sykes in the box, but the Celtic defender was adjudged to have tripped the Bloods' striker, who sent Pettinger the wrong way from the spot despite Brodie's best efforts to advise on his former team-mate's usual style of spot kick.

Banim forced another good save from Pettinger as the Bloods really looked to turn the screw.

It was not all one way traffic, though, as Ashley Winn's swerving effort flew over the bar, as did Brodie's chip on 76 minutes, but the Celts were awarded a rather dubious penalty after a handball by their substitute, Mark Hume. Mr Parade, however, belived the arm to be that of Burke, and Ellington halved the arrears from the spot with three minutes remaining.

However, it was Pettinger that earned his keep with yet another save from Banim as the Bloods coasted to victory and a no doubt, welcome warm shower!

STALYBRIDGE C.: Pettinger, Black, Maxfield, Sykes, Flynn, Winn, Krief, Parr, Ellington, Brodie, Prince.

SUBS: Hume (for Krief, 58), Smith (not used), Hanley (not used), Kay (not used), Buxton (not used).

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 7, Vaughan 7, Warner 6, Robinson 8, Burke 8, Morris 7, Jagielka 8, Lynch 8, Fearns 7, BANIM 8, Tandy 7.

SUBS: Adams 7 (for Warner, 49), Halford (not used), Daly (not used), Rapley 6 (for Tandy, 78), Kelly 6 (for Lynch, 83).

ATTENDANCE: 813

REFEREE: Mr. S. Parade (Crewe, Cheshire)

SCORERS:

Stalybridge Celtic - Ellington (pen 87)

Droylsden - Jagielka (45 and 2), Fearns (pen 65)