STALYBRIDGE CELTIC 2, CHESTER FC 3
Two goal-of-the-season contenders from Stalybridge Celtic players Raul Correia and Ethan Padden lit up their home pre-season friendly loss against Chester FC who snatched victory with a last-minute goal.
The strikes, which put Celtic 2-0 ahead, were special in an encouraging team performance against National League North opponents, though new manager Chris Willcock maintained they remain work in progress.
Celtic, with two narrow losses and a draw from their three fixtures, look to be building a competitive squad.
Willcock was pleased with his side’s first-half display, though it was against effectively Chester’s U21s.
For the start of the second period, Celtic brought on six trialists and became disjointed as Chester’s seven changes saw them bring on a host of senior players as fortunes went the way of the visitors.
Celtic went ahead in the 11th minute through Correia’s spectacular strike.
Winger Aaron Grewell fired over a low cross from the right and Correia, at the near post, hooked the ball high into the top, far corner of the net.
And it got even better for Celtic when Padden made it 2-0 in the 37th minute with a fabulous solo strike.
The midfielder picked up the ball on the left, cut inside the Chester right back and weaved his way towards goal before finding the net from the tightest of angles.
Chester halved the deficit on the stroke of half time when Celtic were caught playing the ball out from the back.
Padden was dispossessed as Chester played the ball out wide right to Lloyd Marsh-Hughes whose low cross to the far post was fired home by Reece Daly.
Chester were far more threatening in the second period when they brought on a new front three of former Tranmere Rovers’ Cole Hall, Anthony Dudley once of Bury and Salford City and new summer signing Kurt Willoughby from York City.
Chester made it 2-2 in the 56th minute when Iwan Murray’s cross from the left was turned home by Matty Williams.
Willoughby set up Dudley who was well denied by Celtic’s U17 goalkeeper Connor Leach who did well in the second period.
Chester snatched an 89th minute winner through Willoughby.
Ollie Hayward’s corner was headed towards goal by Williams with Willoughby touching the ball home from almost on the line.