CELTIC’S first-half horror show condemned them to their second home defeat of the season and cruelly exposed this side’s Achilles heel.

When it comes to playing football Steve Burr's charges are a match for anyone in the Blue Square North, but until they cure themselves of the alarming habit of gifting the opposition soft goals then any thoughts of challenging for promotion will have to be placed on the back burner.

Despite dominating the game for long stretches the Celts somehow managed to present Town with a three-goal half-time lead courtesy of comic cuts defending.

Barrie Keeling was the first to fall victim, allowing Matty Young to stride unchallenged to the edge of the box and dispatch a 10th minute opener.

It is fair to say that Celtic should have had a penalty on 25 minutes when seemingly everyone with the exception of referee Ian Edwards saw Ryan Toulson punch the ball in the Harrogate box.

Two minutes later though, they were staring down the barrel when Ashley Wooliscroft lost possession on the right and Young beat Keeling all ends up before crossing for Danny Holland to bundle home the visitors’ second.

Four minutes later, Woolliscroft fluffed a header and ex-Celt James Dean rounded Paul Phillips and slotted home the third.

Although Celtic scored a consolation goal on 77 minutes when Matty Barlow took advantage of great work by Steve Torpey to score his third goal in as many matches, the damage had been well and truly done in a first half best forgotten.

Burr’s side are exciting to watch but their propensity for conceding has to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Attendance: 515

Keith Trudgeon

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