Wheatley 0

Crown Celtic 2

Facing a team who put eight past them a month ago and with just 11 men available at kick-off it looked like a daunting Sunday morning for Wheatley. A first home defeat of the season was the outcome but only after a very closely contested 90 minutes and two rather comical goals.

With Steve Haw, David Taylor and Richard Eldridge unavailable it looked a threadbare home side. To add to Wheatley's concerns, sweeper Paul Roberts pulled up sharply with a groin strain in the opening minutes.

However, Roberts it was who was at the hub of much of Wheatley's best work in the first -half with a couple of dangerous runs.

The best chance of the opening 20 minutes fell to Smith. Nick Beanland flicked on Jamie Barrow's corner and Smith, despite being just three yards out, didn't connect and the chance of an unlikely lead was lost.

It took a bizarre goal for Celtic to take the lead - defending a free-kick on the edge of their penalty area, the Wheatley players heard the whistle.

Presuming Celtic to be off-side the home side stopped, only for referee Reeves to wave play on and watch Celtic snatch the lead with a diving header past a nonplussed Nick McNiece. Protests aplenty ensued, but the only conclusion was that the whistle must have come from a nearby pitch.

Playing against the wind Wheatley defended well in the opening half. Roberts was replaced at half-time by Dan Houlbrook who slotted in at centre-half with Lord moving to left-back. With the wind at their backs Wheatley took the aerial route in the second-half, with Lord providing much of the ammunition from long throws.

It was some way short of being pretty but chance after chance fell to the home side. Beanland laid back Barrow's corner to Wilby but his shot was dragged woefully wide. Another Barrow corner, which looked to be heading into the top left hand corner was nodded onto the bar by Richard Wood. Two more chances fell to Smith but both were scrambled away by the excellent Celtic 'keeper.

Barrow looked like he was set to level with ten minutes remaining but having cut in and beaten three defenders the 'keeper made another great save.

With two minutes left a goal arrived but against the run of play it was Yeadon who clinched a second. McNiece, probably Wheatley's best performer so far this term, swiped at a back pass. His mis-timed effort dropped to a Crown forward who duly slipped the ball into the net.

Despite the defeat, this was a performance of some character from an under-strength Wheatley. Roberts epitomised the spirit with a fine first-half perfomance despite injury. Wilby and Drew excelled defensively, whilst Andy Murray was in determined mood. Barrow was denied a goal by fine defending whilst Goulding and Smith produced spirited performances. Match Point went to Richard Lord who was instrumental both in defence and, at times, attack.

l On Sunday Wheatley entertain Menston at East Holmes Field (kick-off 10.30 am).