Gaffer Clayton Donaldson felt his side deserved at least a point in tonight’s game at South Shields.

The Celts slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat in blustery conditions and driving rain in the North East, with a goal in each half from National League North’s top scorer Paul Blackett  proving the difference. The gaffer had equalised forThe Celts in the first half.

“We felt confident coming up here that we’d get something from the game,” Clayton said. “I’m disappointed, I felt we deserved at least a draw. We had enough chances to get something out of it, particularly in the first half

“They’re a difficult side. I felt we didn’t get going in the first 20 minutes. When we got the equaliser I thought we’d go on and get another from there but little things didn’t quite happen for us in the final third. 

“With the conditions we knew it would be difficult for us in the second half as it was blowing a gale in our faces. We knew it would be a different ball game. It was kind of a game of two halves. I don’t think we quite adjusted to the conditions in the second half, even though we still created a few chances.

“The lads have been brilliant and we usually grind out results but we couldn’t quite manage it.”

The gaffer said he was disappointed by both goals we conceded.and felt that defender Rudy Misambo’s withdrawal through injury just before kick off had disrupted the team. “We had prepared a system to play with Rudy and then we had to adapt. So it did disrupt us in the opening minutes and we struggled to find our feet, but Noah Wadsworth came in and did a good job at right back.

“We kept going – it wasn’t a bad performance but it was not the result we wanted it to be.”

The Celts will travel to Chorley on Saturday for their next Vanarama National League North game. Kick off is 3pm.