Stalybridge Celtic vs Leek Town

Leek Town, fielding four trialists in an experimental line-up, took the lead in the 16th minute. Lucas Weir's free kick was parried by Celtic goalkeeper Charlie Monks into the path of a Leek trialist, who slotted home from close range. The visitors had earlier seen a strong penalty appeal for handball turned down.

The first half failed to produce further clear-cut chances, but the game sprang to life after the interval. Monks made two vital saves within four minutes of the restart, first denying Jack Griffiths and then blocking a one-on-one chance for former Celtic loanee Hayden Campbell, who was put clean through.

At the other end, Celtic striker Lewis Rawsthorn was sent clear and lobbed the Leek trialist goalkeeper, only to see his effort strike the upright with the goal gaping.

The equaliser arrived shortly after the hour mark. Benni Smales-Braithwaite delivered a cross from the right, and substitute Irlam — on the pitch for only a couple of minutes — directed a header back across goal and beyond the keeper's dive.

Celtic pushed for a winner and came closest 12 minutes from time. Smales-Braithwaite's in-swinging corner was flicked on and cleared off the line by a covering defender. Captain Liam Tongue saw a deflected drive drift narrowly wide, and from the resulting corner Smales-Braithwaite's shot from the left edge of the box was palmed away by the Leek keeper.

The introduction of Irlam and Ruben Jerome just before the hour mark transformed the game. Celtic assistant manager Steve Atkinson, taking charge with manager Jon Macken at a wedding, admitted the changes made the difference. "The lads who came on, Ruben Jerome and Jack Irlam, made a massive difference," he told Manchester Football. "We have a plethora of attacking options which enables us to adapt our formation."

Irlam's headed equaliser within two minutes of his arrival was the direct return on that substitution, and Celtic's performance visibly lifted from that moment.

Jack Irlam (Stalybridge Celtic) — Player of the Match. The striker needed barely two minutes to make his mark, meeting Smales-Braithwaite's cross with a precise header back across goal. His movement and presence instantly lifted Celtic's attacking threat.

Charlie Monks (Stalybridge Celtic). The goalkeeper kept his side in the contest with two sharp saves at the start of the second half, particularly the one-on-one stop against Campbell when Leek looked to double their lead.

Benni Smales-Braithwaite (Stalybridge Celtic). Involved in the equaliser with a pinpoint cross for Irlam, and came close to scoring himself late on, forcing a fine save from the Leek keeper.

Leek trialist (Leek Town). The unnamed trialist took his goal well, reacting quickest to the loose ball after Monks' parry, and was a consistent threat during his time on the pitch.

The 1-1 scoreline masks a second half that was heavily weighted towards Celtic. After a first half in which Leek created the better chances and had a penalty shout, the momentum shifted decisively after Irlam's equaliser. Celtic's late flurry — the goal-line clearance, Tongue's deflected shot, and Smales-Braithwaite's saved effort — suggests they shaded the second half on chances created. Leek's decision to field four trialists and a heavily rotated side explains some of the disjointedness, but Celtic's substitutes proved the decisive factor in the game's balance.

This was Stalybridge Celtic's penultimate pre-season friendly before the 2026/27 NPL West campaign. They face Ashton United at Bower Fold on 1 August in their final warm-up fixture. Leek Town, one division higher in the NPL Premier, remain unbeaten in pre-season and travel to Runcorn Linnets on 31 July before their league season begins on 8 August.

Atkinson summed up the value of the workout: "We have had indifferent results pre-season, but it is all geared for the start of the season. This was an excellent workout against a really good opposition."

A tale of two halves and two substitutes. Leek's first-half quality — playing a division up — showed through early, but Celtic's second-half response, sparked by Irlam's instant impact, was impressive. The draw was a fair reflection of a game that served its purpose for both sides as final preparations for the season take shape.