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

STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 2 – 2 DROYLSDEN

Blue Square North – Tuesday 21 April 2009

Report by Gary Owen

Tameside honours ended even with this second successive scoring draw between these two rivals, with another stoppage time equaliser – this time The Bloods celebrating like the goal signified a win.

This was also a match which saw Steve Halford see red for a foul on Lee Ellington early in the second half, from which the Celtic striker converted the penalty, and with The Bloods playing up the second half slope and twice coming from behind, was a demonstration of great character from Dave Pace's men.

Droylsden enjoyed the better of things in the first half, with the first real effort falling to Jamie McGuire on 13 minutes, but his far post header from Sean Newton's cross was easily fielded by Paul Phillips.

Liam Brownhll then sent Jake Speight scampering through, but his lofted effort over the advancing Phillips went well wide, before a shot from Tony Gray on the edge of the box was again easily dealt with by the former Bloods' custodian.

Gray then saw a 12 yard volley deflect over the bar, before Celtic's first test of Craig Mawson on 26 minutes, when Andy Smart's daisy-cutter was gathered by the Droylsden ‘keeper.

Gray had two remaining efforts in the first half – initially, he collected Newton's great cross-field pass, cut inside Rhys Meynell, but shot over; then his angled drive went wide, but Phillips probably had it covered.

All the meaningful action came after the break, and within the first two minutes, Droylsden were one down and reduced to ten men, when Ellington chased a long punt upfield and got on the wrong side of Halford, who had little alternative but to pull back the striker. He still managed to shoot, but as it went wide, Mr. Ackerman pointed to the spot and showed red to Halford. Ellington made no mistake from 12 yards.

The Bloods struck back within 90 seconds, though. From the re-start, Speight forced a good save from Phillips, and when the resultant flag kick was hooked back across goal by Gray, in came Mike Byron with a thundering header towards the ground, which sneaked under Phillips' body for an instant reply.

Celtic looked to regain the momentum, and saw a shot blocked on the line before Smart received a short free kick to shoot, but it was deflected away for a corner.

A Brownhill clearance then struck Meynell and flew towards the Droylsden goal, but Mawson was alert to the danger, and Alex Meechan worked a good chance for himself, but fluffed his lines when the time mattered.

Mawson then made a tremendous double save from Ellington's free kick, with Meechan looking to get to the loose rebound, and moments later Mawson was at full stretch to deny sub Matty Barlow.

Celtic's pressure finally told when Ellington won another free kick outside the box, but this time he steered his shot inside the far post for what many felt would be the winner on 80 minutes.

Mr. Ackerman then missed a blatant elbow from the otherwise commanding Barrie Keeling on Gray, and with the Celts still having the man advantage Keith Briggs tried his luck from the half-way line after a mis-cued clearance from Mawson, but it went well wide despite having the advantage of the slope.

Droylsden began a fight back, with Ian Fitzpatrick firing wide of the apex of bar and post, and when it all seemed up, in the final minute of added time, Byron made a great run into the Celtic area. The ball bounced up and, with his back to goal, Patterson bicycle-kicked the ball into the far corner with Phillips stunned and the travelling fans in raptures.

The result means that Droylsden will finish top of the Tameside pile if they can beat Fleetwood in their final game at home. Furthermore, 6th place may yet become crucial in the contest for play-off places!

TEAMS:

Stalybridge Celtic

Phillips, Battersby, Meynell (Torpey, 67'), Hardiker, Keeling, Sykes, Wilkinson (Barlow, 67'), Briggs, Meechan ( Bowler, 90+1'), Ellington, Smart.

Unused Sub.: Barwick

Droylsden

Mawson, Brownhill, Newton, Halford, Ruffer (Byron, 35'), Sorvel, Beck (Brown, 75'), McGuire, Gray, Speight (Fitzpatrick, 80'), Patterson.

Unused Subs: Roche, Lamb.

Referee: Mr. A. Ackerman (Didsbury, Manchester)

ATTENDANCE: 614