Celtic manager Haworth calls for more composure in front of goal

Stalybridge Celtic manager Simon Haworth called for his side to be more ruthless after Celtic lost 1-0 away against Radcliffe.

Celtic had chances throughout the game however it was the home team who were the more clinical side. Ben Wharton’s penalty on 24 minutes was enough to seal all three points for Radcliffe.

Haworth thought Celtic had enough chances to get a positive result. He said: “I’m more disappointed that we completely dominated the game but didn’t have that bit of composure.

“Hobbo’s (Craig Hobson) hit the bar and had one cleared off the line. Vallo (Nathan Valentine) has had a good chance, you can count, five, six, seven good chances.

“They’ve had a penalty and then something on the break which wouldn’t really happen if we weren’t chasing the game. Apart from that, I don’t think Alex (Fojticek) has had a save to make.

“It feels like a step backwards really, when we’ve totally controlled the game.”

Celtic have now lost three out of their last four games although the 2-1 away win against Warrington Town during that period shows that they can compete with the best teams in the division. “The performances are there, I think the results will be there to keep us competitive”, Haworth added.

“We just have to find that ruthless edge to us, to get something from games like this one. That’s what I’ve just said to the lads, we need to be a bit more clinical.

“It would be the same if we were one goal up, we’ve got to make sure we don’t give a goal away. I just think we’re a little bit naive at times, at both ends.

“If we can get a bit more clinical, ruthless whatever the word you want to use, we can go on more of a run. At the moment it’s good performances but we’re just not picking up the results we deserve.

“Anyone here today would fully understand that we deserve the three points and we got none.”

Celtic are on their travels again next weekend as they face Bamber Bridge at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium. Stalybridge sit 12th in the BetVictor Northern Premier League, seven points ahead of Saturday’s opponents.

Haworth was sure that if Celtic could keep the same level of performance that they have recently shown, they would do well: “We’ll go there and try and win, if we keep that level of performance and add a bit of a clinical edge to us and be a bit more believing, I think we can go on a good little run and be competitive.

“Every week’s a tough game, we’ve come here today and been much the better team and got nothing. That’s the league, as I’ve always said it’s so competitive.

“If you get in a position to win a game or get a point, you have to take it. We got in a position today to get something and we didn’t take it. That’s disappointing.”