Celtic gain valuable three points

LURGAN Celtic gained a valuable three points on Saturday when they defeated Ballymena side Wakehurst 2-1 in their quest to pull away from the bottom of the league.

Celtic again went into the game decimated with withdrawals but manager Tabb decided to give youth a chance with a new look side. The back four had Greene, Maguire, captain McEvoy and debutant Sean Hanna as McAnallen was missing through injury.

In midfield familiar faces McArdle, Lavery and O’Hara were joined by young Ciaran Ryan and up front The Hoops welcomed back top scorer Fitzpatrick alongside youth team player Andrew Murnin.

It was clear from the outset that it was a determined Celtic side who wanted to avenge recent performances and it was Ciaran Ryan who was bossing midfield alongside Lavery.

As early as the first minute Ryan made a burst into the Wakehurst box but his cross just eluded the strikers in an early warning.

Leading scorer Fitzpatrick was showing what Celtic had been missing in recent weeks as he tortured the away defence throughout and in the 16th minute he was unlucky as his fine header went just wide.

Despite the home side's domination it was a season long problem that returned when Wakehurst went forward with their first meaningful attack and took the lead with a scrappy finish to make it 1-0 to the away side.

Up front Andrew Murnin, who was making his first team debut after scoring seven goals in two games for the youth team certainly gave manager Tabb an alternative option in attack with his excellent first touch and direct running play. Celtic then hit the net in the 38th minute with a deserved equaliser when Ciaran Ryan dispossessed the away side in midfield and he fed Fitzpatrick who scored with a low drive to make it level going into the break.

Celtic again came out in determined fashion in the second half and it was Fitzpatrick in the 47th minute that went agonisingly close with a header that flew just wide.

Celtic were finally starting to create the chances that their build up play merited with newcomers Murnin and Ryan at the heart of everything along with the hard working McArdle.

Wakehurst were limited in their attacks in an unusually quiet day for keeper Fox and again in the 58th minute Fitzpatrick went close after good build up play by Murnin.

Manager Tabb then sent on Pol Smyth for the tiring Sean Hanna and he provided an instant threat with his long throws and intelligent build up play.

The Hoops supporters where at this stage confident of a winner for the home side and it came in the 70th minute when Celtic took the lead with a fine goal. McEvoy, who had dealt comfortably with any forward threat posed throughout powered a header directly to Fitzpatrick who in turn slipped a fine through ball to Murnin and despite the close attention of the defender made it a debut to remember when he finished low to the net.

For the remaining 20 minutes it was all Celtic in their quest for a third and again Murnin was unlucky in the 79th minute when his turn and snap shot was well saved.

The game finished with a 2-1 scoreline to give the Hoop’s supporters something to finally shout about in what has been a disappointing season to date. All eleven players who started played well but it was the debutants Ryan and Murnin who stole the show along with the returning Fitzpatrick who scored one and created another.

In a close run contest for the Toal's Sponsored man of the match the voucher was awarded to Ciaran Ryan for his endeavour and enterprise in midfield.

Next up for Celtic is an away trip to PSNI next week in what is always a tight match at New Forge (kick-off 3pm).