Celtic got back to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over Newcastle, creating excellent chances with sublime build up play.

Within minutes of kick-off, Celtic had produced two liquid moves that Newcastle dealt with, but looked creaky and shell-shocked, Joe Slinn having to react quickly to steal the ball off Tunde Owolabi’s toes. On a third move, Kyle Brownhill’s low cross was cut out by Slinn, coming to Ellis Horan who pounced and snatched the opener. Rube Jerome was denied first by Slinn and on the rebound by Ernest Ofosu, before Owolabi’s reaction header on the loose ball cleared the bar. Benni Smales-Braithwaite did what he does best, twisting into the box, but cleared the bar. The visitors did have chances, but Charlie Monks stayed alert, catching Oli Ritchie’s free kick easily. Celtic should have been further ahead at the break, but Horan and Mike Koral were off target and Jack Tinning headed wide from a corner.

Relentless attacking continued after the break, Smales-Braithwaite denied first by a smart stop, then by a great one. By far the busier keeper, Slinn also denied Owolabi with a fantastic save. Ensuring Celtic stayed in the lead, when Tim Grice beat the offside trap, Charlie Monks with a fabulous save of his own. Celtic made the game safe when Jack Irlam intercepted a loose ball in midfield, saw Slinn a long way out of his box, and fired in a fifty-five yard looping effort over the stranded Newcastle keeper and into the net. Horan coming in on the right, Irlam on the left, the visiting defence couldn’t contain everybody, and Horan tried his luck from ma tight angle into the side netting, while it needed a clumsy challenge from Daniel Apantaku to stop Irlam, at the cost of a penalty. Irlam converted the spot-kick anyway. With fifteen minutes still to go, Celtic went looking to restore their goal-difference, but though he got two chances, Max Leonard was twice denied by Slinn, the second, a contender for save of the match, close range and down to his left.

Celtic moved back up to sixth and stayed in touch with the top spots, ready to go again against Nantwich on Tuesday.