Stalybridge Celtic 1 Lancaster City 1 A SUPERB goal deep into injury time saved a point for City in the opening game of the season.

This side is now unequivocally Tony Hesketh's and his new charges performed well against a Celtic team widely tipped for promotion.

Jimmy Graham was man of the match - as he was to be in Tuesday night's game at home to Leigh RMI - and fashioned City's best chances from set pieces. Kenny Mayers and Paul Haddow were both unlucky not to have converted one of his crosses before Winfield Steele scored for Celtic in the 38th minute.

City gave it all they had in the second half and did produce one or two good chances. But it looked certain a certain defeat before substitute Graham Taylor scored his wonder goal after the 90 minutes were up. A hopeful punt forward fell to Taylor on the edge of the area. As he controlled the ball he spun away from defender Andy Scott and, in the same movement, smacked a hard shot under the Celtic keeper.

TEAM: Thornley, Kilbane, Graham, Udall, Horner, Mayers, Trainor (Taylor 55), Haddow, Sugden (Ward 60), Barnes (Cheal 75), Kennedy.

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