CELTIC START SEASON WITH IMPRESSIVE AWAY WIN

GOYTRE UNITED 2 CWMBRAN CELTIC 3

Cwmbran Celtic pulled off a stunning win in the opening game of the Cymru South season at Goytre, Lewis Iles scoring the winner in the 6 th minute of time added on to take his team to the top of the

table albeit only for 24 hours. Celtic were again slow out of the blocks as they were against Taffs Well last Saturday and they were

indebted to 2 fine saves by Hooper and a clearance off the line by Josh Hinwood to keep their goal intact. However on 17 minutes Kian Bodenham was adjudged to have handled the ball and Watts scored from the spot. Celtic drew level on 29 minutes when Alex Bonthron ghosted into the box to convert a Tom Meechan cross at the near post. In the 2 nd half Hooper made another great save to keep out a wayward clearance by Hinwood. Celtic took the lead in the 67 th minute when a Meechan cross eluded the defender to find Iles who coolly lobbed the keeper to give Celtic the lead. Goytre equalised in the 73 rd minute with a header from Edwards. Hooper was adamant that he scooped the ball off the line but the referee ruled that the goal stood. On 84 minutes Celtic were awarded a penalty but McFenton made a fine save to deny Iles – the striker’s 2 nd miss in a week from the spot. Celtic were well on top in the closing minutes and were rewarded when Iles found himself free in the 6-yard box to take a cross from Alex Bonthron and calmly place the ball into the net for the last gasp winner.

What a great send-off for me as I depart to pastures new on the back of circa 500 games as Celtic’s intrepid match reporter. A big thankyou to all the players and management who have given me so much pleasure watching their exploits over the past 17 seasons.