Celtic under 11s progressed to the semi-finals of the Manchester FA County Cup after dispatching Barhill Diamonds of the City of Salford Soccer League by 11 goals to 2 on Sunday morning at the Soccer School.In truth, despite the scoreline, Bridge were well below par although the heavy pitch certainly didn't help their passing game, but too often poor decision making and undue haste led to the ball being given away needlessly.It took 11 minutes for Elliot to break the deadlock, latching on to Sid's through ball. Tom then scored from the spot and saw another penalty saved, although Jack followed up to make it 3-0. Kai slotted in a fourth from Jack's corner to give Celtic a healthy half time lead, but the point was made that greater quality and effort were required for the next half an hour.A mistake at the start of the second half presented Barhill with a goal back, but within seven minutes Celtic added a further three goals to lead 7-1. Kai poked home from Callum's pass for number five,... Read the rest of this article...

Celtic under 11s extended their lead at the top of the Tameside Saturday League with a comprehensive 5-0 defeat of Denton Youth. Kick off was delayed by 30 minutes to allow extra thawing time on a frosty morning, but the lads began the match showing great energy and application, with Bomber setting the tone up front.It was Dan who put Stalybridge 1-0 in front, heading in Brad's in-swinging corner for his seventh goal of the season from centre-half. Max doubled the lead on 25 minutes, finishing at the second attempt after cutting inside two defenders and it was no less than Bridge deserved as they had completely dominated the game up to that point. However, just before the break, James made three excellent saves, the first with his feet and then twice pushing the ball round the post from a free-kick that the referee ordered to be retaken. Concentration is so important in games where goalkeepers have so little to do and James certainly earned his corn on Saturday to make sure Celtic stay... Read the rest of this article...

Celtic under 11s won the Junior Soccer League Winter 5-a-side Tournament at the Soccer Village in Milnrow defeating Heysham Blue Star 3-1 in the final. Three group games brought three victories including an 11-2 victory over Beechfield United...not bad in 12 minutes of football! Bridge then beat Elite Soccer 3-1 in the semi-final before claiming the title.The lads played some outstanding football, dominating every game, creating loads of opportunities through pass and move football and were a credit both to themselves and the club.Well done boys.

Stalybridge Celtic under 11s finished the second half of 2011 unbeaten and reclaimed top spot in the league with a comprehensive defeat of Breaks 147. On a pitch holding water and cutting up badly, Celtic dominated from start to finish with Luke in goal hardly troubled during the game. A missed penalty inside two minutes was a pre-cursor to a host of other missed chances throughtout the 60 minutes, with the ball getting stuck in the mud, the keeper making saves and the lads missing the target or not putting their foot through the ball. However, they did create some fine opportunities with Jack and Brad controlling midfield and Macca looking lively on the left. Stalybridge took the lead on the quarter hour. A short corner led to a quick interchange of passes before Brad's cross was met perfectly by the head of Elliot to notch his 13th goal of the season - not bad from just five starts. The lead was doubled nine minutes later when Macca cut inside on to his... Read the rest of this article...

Celtic under 11s maintained their 14-game unbeaten record and recorded their 100th goal of the season with a fantastic comeback to defeat Delamere Rangers on Saturday. They now lie two points behind leaders West End with three games in hand, but it was hard work to overturn a 3-1 deficit before running out 4-3 winners. Having defeated Delamere in a pre-season tournament on penalties and drawn 1-1 at their place earlier in the season, the lads were warned to expect a very committed performance from the opposition. However, looking less than lively in the pre-match warm-up, the message was further re-enforced before kick-off, but within four minutes they were 1-0 down. The lacklustre start continued for almost 20 minutes and by that time they were trailing 2-0. With Kai having pulled up injured in the warm-up and then both James and Sid having to be substituted due to feeling unwell, the lads were really up against it. But as they started to find their feet and creat... Read the rest of this article...

Celtic under 11s met league leaders Failsworth Dynamos on Saturday and came away with a 3-1 win to maintain their unbeaten record and to move within two points of the top of the table with two games in hand. Failsworth started brightly and James twice made good stops to keep them at bay. But after five minutes Bridge started to move the ball a lot better and began creating chances. They went in front when Jack swept the ball out to Tom whose first time pass allowed Max to poke the ball past the keeper. The game was very competitive, but it was Celtic creating the better opportunities with the midfield working well and Max and Bomber causing problems with their movement up front. Stalybridge really took control in the second half, applying pressure and defending extremely well. Callum, Charlie, Daniel, Nathan and Sid were rarely threatened, while Brad, Jack, Kai and Tom worked tirelessly in midfield. Therefore, it was definitely a suprise when Failsworth equali... Read the rest of this article...

Celtic under 11s reached the last eight of the Manchester FA County Cup after a one-sided encounter against Barhill Aces from the City of Salford League on Sunday morning at the Soccer School The first half was almost exclusively played in Barhill's half as Celtic created chance after chance and dispatched most of them. Macca got the first, when alive to a poor goal kick and was brought down in the box to allow Nathan to add a second from the penalty spot. Dan's free kick picked out Kai at the far post who controlled and slotted home to make it 3-0, while Elliot was on hand to score the fourth after the keeper fumbled Keenan's cross. Macca turned in Tom's left wing cross for number five, while Jack's through ball was dispatched in to the corner by Elliot to make it 6-0 after 22 minutes. Within 30 seconds it was seven when Keenan's shot got a helpful deflection, but the goal of the half saw Max hold the ball up and then play a reverse pass to Nathan who found the roof of the net... Read the rest of this article...

Stalybridge under 11s drew 4-4 with West End Boys Club in a 'lively' encounter on Saturday morning at the Soccer School.  This was always going to be a difficult game for Celtic with their opponents sitting at the top of the league having played two more games than the unbeaten Bridge, but within 35 seconds a ball over the top from Tom found Max who squared it to Bomber to score his 12th goal of the season and give the lads the perfect start. Tom doubled the lead from the penalty spot after seven minutes when Kai played in Max who was brought down in the box. However, West End came more in to the game as the half progressed and after James had made a fine save, they got a goal back after Celtic's defence switched off from a throw in. The game really heated up in the second half as controversy rained. West End equalised despite their linesman flagging that the ball had gone out of play, the referee ignoring the shouts from the... Read the rest of this article...

Stalybridge Celtic under 11s reached the semi-finals of the League Cup after coming from two goals down to record a 3-2 victory over Denton Youth on Saturday.On a pitch much smaller than they are now used to, Celtic found space at a premium. And although they created countless chances, were 2-0 down with just 20 minutes to go and heading for their first defeat of the season and out of the cup. Their opponents worked hard to close down any space, and in front of goal were clinical, taking two of three chances they carved out in the first half. By contrast, Bridge squandered chance after chance, either snatching at opportunities or failing to strike the ball with any venom in front of goal.Harsh words at half time brought the necessary response and it was virtually one-way traffic during the second period. Brad brought Celtic back in to the game when alive at the far post to sweep home a low cross, before Bomber was alert in the box to fi... Read the rest of this article...

Celtic under 11's moved four points clear at the top of the Tameside Football League with a 6-1 defeat of Breaks 147 on Saturday morning at the Stalybridge Soccer Centre. Breaks parked the proverbial bus for the whole of the game to try and deny the lads, but within the first three minutes it was by-passed. Tom crossed for Max to set up Macca for a fine shot which the keeper saved, but Bomber was on hand to tap in. The normal routes to goal were proving difficult with so many bodies in the way, however Dan's free-kick was met by a great header from Kai. Unfortunately, it hit the bar, but Tom was on hand to double the lead. Kai made it 3-0 with a good shot from the edge of the box, aided by a slight deflection, before Keenan got the fourth, following up after the keeper had tipped Bomber's excellent shot on to the bar. 4-0 at half time and Celtic keeper, Luke, was yet to touch the ball! Max made it 5-0 four minutes into the second half when Keena... Read the rest of this article...