Stalybridge Celtic 3-0 Boston United

The Pilgrims gave an excellent account of themselves in Cheshire, but having trailed to Arthur Gnahoua's 34th minute opener, substitute Craig Hobson exploited gaps in the United rearguard to add two late strikes.

United had pushed strongly for an equaliser, but were undone by Hobson's late double.

The result preserved Celtic's unbeaten home record in Blue Square Bet North this season and extended their winning run in home matches against the Pilgrims to five games.

United had started particularly brightly at Bower Fold and almost led within four minutes. Danny Sleath set Marc Newsham clear and he saw his curling effort magnficiently clawed to safety by the flying Jan Budtz.

Celtic gradually imposed their passing game on proceedings and thought they had taken the lead when Phil Marsh met Chris Lynch's free-kick with a firm header, but the goal was ruled out for a push on Alan White.

Paul Bastock made a decent near post save to deny Jack Rea on the half-hour mark, but the Pilgrims continued to create at the other end.

Ben Milnes had a firm 20-yarder accidentally blocked by Jason Lee, while the United player-boss later had a downward header gathered by Budtz following Ryan Semple's towering cross.

Stalybridge took the lead 11 minutes before the break. Marsh found some space down the Celtic left before pulling the ball back for youth team graduate GNAHOUA to slide an effort across Bastock and into the far corner.

The second period was a keenly-contested affair with both sides trading attacking moves in equal measure.

The Pilgrims gradually introduced Chris Hall, Ben Fairclough and the reserves' top scorer Tony Edwards, with the final change seeing Jordan Fairclough sacrificed as United switched to 3-4-3 for the closing stages.

With United leaving holes aplenty, Celtic capitalised to win a corner and once Rea's delivery had pinged around the box, HOBSON stuck out a leg to divert the ball beyond Bastock.

Boston still continued to fight and Edwards whipped a ball across goal which was crying out for a finishing touch and Hall did likewise seconds later as the Pilgrims came mightily close to cutting the deficit.

Kevin Austin was then denied by a terrific top corner save from Budtz, after meeting Milnes' free-kick from midway inside the Celtic half.

There was still time for Celtic to add a third. The home side broke five-on-one and Marsh eventually picked out a ball for HOBSON to steer home his second.

Stalybridge (4-3-3): Jan Budtz; Joel Bembo-Leta, Chris Lynch, Rhys Meynell, Andy McWilliams; Jack Rea, Stephen Brogan, Greg Wilkinson (Callum Warburton 65); Connor Jennings (Mitchell Austin 85), Arthur Gnahoua (Craig Hobson 65), Phil Marsh. Subs (not used): Adam Kay, Craig MacGillivray (gk).

Boston (4-4-2): Paul Bastock; Jordan Fairclough (Tony Edwards 86), Alan White, Kevin Austin, Gareth Jelleyman; Ryan Semple, Ben Milnes, Ian Ross (Ben Fairclough 81), Danny Sleath (Chris Hall 68); Jason Lee, Marc Newsham. Subs (not used): Tom Ward, Ricky Drury (gk).

Referee: Jason Whiteley