Stalybridge Celtic secured a place in the next round of the FA Trophy following a closely contested match against Bradford PA on August 30, 2026. Two late goals from Stalybridge, scored shortly before halftime and again before the end of the second half, proved decisive in halting Bradford’s winning streak and ensuring Celtic’s progression.

Bradford arrived at the fixture on the back of four consecutive victories and began the game with considerable intensity. The visitors took an early lead in the ninth minute when Charlie Monks found Ben Andreucci with a perfectly timed through-ball. Andreucci showed composure to evade defender Kyle Brownhill and calmly finish past the Stalybridge goalkeeper, giving Bradford an early advantage.

Despite this setback, Stalybridge responded with determination. The home team’s goalkeeper was forced into crucial saves within the opening minutes as Bradford maintained offensive pressure through dangerous crossing opportunities. As the match progressed, Stalybridge grew into the contest, creating more opportunities to challenge the Bradford defense.

Determined to overturn the deficit, Stalybridge struck just before the halftime whistle, when a well-executed move resulted in an equalizing goal. The momentum shifted further in their favor late in the second half when Stalybridge found the net again, securing a 2-1 lead that they maintained until the final whistle.

The result ended Bradford’s impressive run of victories to start the season and highlighted Stalybridge’s resilience in a high-stakes knockout competition. Both teams demonstrated attacking intent, but it was Stalybridge’s timely strikes that ultimately made the difference.

With this victory, Stalybridge Celtic advance deeper into the FA Trophy, while Bradford PA must regroup after a promising start to their campaign.