PESKY BULLS HELD AT HOME BY CELTS

IT FINISHED all square at Volair Park with defences on top in difficult conditions.

Prescot Cables came closest in the first half when a Lloyd Dean bullet header came back off the inside of the post and bounced to safety.

The post came to Stalybridges’ rescue again early in the second half as Josef Faux’s cross-cum-shot deceived everyone and bounced off the woodwork.

But the visitors where left frustrated in the dying stages as a penalty claim was waved away, meaning the sides will go again at Bower Fold on Tuesday evening, with a winner guaranteed to advance.