AFTER the 9-1 drubbing handed out to them last week by Morris Dancers FC, it's not surprising that Brierfield Celtic looked set for a toasting by Warburtons at Benthead.

Warburtons, last season's Division Two League and Cup winners, have taken the First Division by storm and three wins from three games clearly demonstrate they don't intend taking any prisoners in their march to the Premier League.

However, if they seriously intend to win promotion this time around there's one lesson they will have to learn quickly and that's never to under-estimate the opposition.

Warburtons are a very well organised club with some talented players, but you sense that the success they enjoyed last season and the fantastic start they've made this year has resulted in them becoming just a little too arrogant for their own good.

This defeat will have done them no harm at all. Warburtons found themselves a goal down after only 13 minutes when Celtic's Jason Warwick, fed a telling ball wide to John Bradley and from 15 yards out Bradley made no mistake hitting a shot low across the face of Lee Edmondson's goalmouth into the bottom left hand corner.

Realising they'd a game on their hands Warburtons stepped up the tempo and Ian Turner in the Celtic goal was called into action for the first time. A 25-yard effort from Greg Hodson resulted in Turner palming the ball into the path of Mick Toms and then brilliantly turning Toms close range shot wide of the post. But having taken the lead Celtic were in no mood for a repeat of last week and 16-year old Jonathan Finch almost made a dream debut for himself when he finished a lovely move started by Jason Warwick.

Warwick, a powerhouse in midfield, released the ball to Paul Bradley who in turn found Finch. Displaying great composure, Finch hit a chip shot from 20 yards over the head of Edmondson and was desperately unlucky to see the ball clip the crossbar and bounce to safety.

Warwick next supplied John Bradley with an opening and Edmondson was forced to dive at Bradley's feet to prevent Celtic increasing their lead. But increase it they did and it came two minutes after the break when Warwick hit a long through ball for John Bradley to chase deep into the Warburton penalty area.

Despite two defenders snapping at his heels, Bradley took his time before hitting a shot that took a deflection, wrong-footed Lee Edmondson and spelt trouble with a capital T for Warburtons unbeaten league record.

Warburtons frantically tried to turn the game around and for long spells dominated play but apart from a defence splitting pass from Carl Cheetham that had Ian Turner diving bravely at the feet of Paul Hartley, they persisted in hitting long hopeful shots that rarely troubled the Celtic defence.

Their goal, when it came in the 82nd minute, was the result of a rash foul from Celtic defender Steve Stanworth on Warburton's Mick Toms which Mr Exton had no hesitation in punishing with a penalty kick. Brian Wright made no mistake from the spot, crashing the ball past Ian Turner, providing his own lacklustre forwards with a lesson in how to hit the back of the net.

With time running out Warburton player-manager Ian Cheetham tried in vain to motivate his side to find that face saving equaliser. His well flighted free-kick found Brian Wright but this time Wright flashed his shot just wide of the post and Celtic stormed forward looking for the third goal to rap up the game. Jonathan Finch almost capped a very impressive game with a goal after a mistake from Carl Cheetham opened up space for the youngster on the edge of the six yard box. Finch hesitated just that split second too long and Cheetham recovered to rob the ball back and the chance was lost.

In the last minute Celtic's keeper Ian Turner, displayed tremendous agility flinging himself backwards to tip John Crowder's scorching volley over the crossbar and then a total lack of control over his mouth when he needlessly got himself booked seconds later.

On that note, the game finished with Brierfield recording an impressive victory and Warburtons learning a valuable lesson that should stand them in good stead for the rest of the season.

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