Stalybridge 5 Telford 5 - Report and pictures

The Bucks took the lead at Bower Fold as they took on former boss Liam Watson, but were pegged back and punished for sloppy defending to fall 3-1 down.

They rescued a goal before the break but a storming start to the second-half from Celtic saw them create a mighty 5-2 lead, only for McCarthy and Wilson to bring it back to 5-4.

The on-loan McCarthy was on hand four minutes into added on time to fire in a rebound to cap off a remarkable afternoon.

The hosts' high line looked risky directly from kick-off, with Connor McCarthy's pace looking an immediate threat.

Celtic already had the Merseyside forward flagged offside twice inside the first five minutes.

Recent acquisition Josh Wilson, on his first start for the Bucks, struck an ambitious 35-yard free-kick over the top before McCarthy escaped the Celtic backline but could only strike over Tony McMillan's crossbar.

Rob Smith's visitors took the upperhand over ex-boss Liam Watson and it was Wilson, who netted as a sub on debut at Solihull Moors last time out, who broke the deadlock with a stunning strike from 25-yards.

Stalybridge Celtic: McMillan, Wylie, Wisdom, Hughes ©, Higgins, Chalmers, Dixon, Wright, Simm (Mudimu), Farrell, Chippendale.

Unused subs: McKenna, Shaw, Burns, Tames.

AFC Telford United (4-4-2): Burgoyne, Samuels, Campion, Tilt, Hutchison, Rea ©, Dawson, Wilson, Wynter (Reid, 70, Hibbert (Cofie, 45), McCarthy

Unused subs: Grogan, Tonks, Clancy.

Attendance: 437

The lively McCarthy turned his defender and fed Wilson, who avoided the one-two and instead dropped a shoulder and found McMillan's top corner from outside the area for his second Bucks goal.

Smith and Larry Chambers' joy immediately turned to despair as Harry Burgoyne conceded are rather needless corner from a high ball. The Bucks, for who holding onto a lead has been an issue all season, barely cleared the corner and Dale Wright blasted over.

The pacy Aiden Chippendale was causing problems on the Celtic left and whipped a delicious centre into the Bucks penalty area that evaded everyone in Stalybridge blue.

But the Bucks failed to heed the warning, Celtic's Wright weaves through challenges by Dwayne Samuels and Graham Hutchison before squaring for Chris Simm to finish from 12 yards.

The equaliser spurred Telford back into life in front of their travelling fans, McCarthy's pace causing more problems as he broke the backline but couldn't quite round McMillan.

Shortly after Dave Hibbert was just unable to find a teammate in yellow as he connected to Lucas Dawson's free-kick which was only partially cleared before Wilson's goalbound strike was blocked.

A fine last-ditch challenge from Stalybridge skipper Matty Hughes denied McCarthy from testing McMillan as he had again broke clear of the home defence.

But on the half hour Telford's good work was undone in bizarre fashion, as Celtic right midfielder Bohan Dixon looped a high cross that looked to be sailing over before dropping under Burgoyne's far post.

Wilson had another slight opening to peg Bucks back level but his header from Dawson's set piece flew over the top into the Joe Jackson stand - where the travelling fans were housed.

In the bitter conditions, Telford and Burgoyne's afternoon went from bad to worse as the deficit increased to 3-1 with Simm grabbing his second.

The poacher netted a remarkable similar goal to his opener, profiting from another left-sided cut-back. But this time the centre seemed to lack the necessary power only for the on-loan Wolves shot-stopper Burgoyne to let it bobble over his grasp.

Curtis Tilt should have reduced the arrears but after being headed in by Hibbert, his left footed volley from the penalty spot flashed wide.

With the break looming Telford did manage to add a second through Dawson, whose free-kick from near the left corner flag appeared to fly straight in, despite the tannoy crediting to Jordan Wynter.

The introduction of John Cofie for Hibbert at the break seemed to boost the travelling faithful, but two minutes into the re-start and Telford fell two goals behind again.

A set piece was woefully defended and defender Jack Higgins was left all alone to prod beyond Burgoyne from close range. The nightmare worsened for the Bucks five minutes later,

Left-back Danny Wisdom found himself charging away from Jack Rea down the heart of the pitch before curling a sumptuous finish beyond Burgoyne.

With Telford staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat and having narrowly survived Simm missing his hat-trick, the Bucks pulled the gap back to two in bizarre fashion.

McCarthy found himself one-on-one with home skipper Matty Hughes and after turning him inside out, saw his heavy touch collected by McMillan.

McCarthy persisted and somehow regained possession from the keeper to prod home.

Celtic protested but the goal stood, and Telford almost followed it with another as sub Cofie pulled an effort wide.

Higgins again broke from the back and almost added more comfort to the scoreline from a Celtic persuasion, curling narrowly wide of Burgoyne's upright from distance.

Telford dragged themselves back into it with 10 minutes to play as Wilson notched his second from the edge of penalty area, volleying in after Samuels had flicked on a deep free-kick.

The goal came from nowhere and the Bucks continued to huff and puff for a dramatic leveller.

With stoppage time coming and going, it appeared they would fall short, Wilson put it beyond McMillan but was pulled up for offside.

Sub Izak Reid curled narrowly over the top as it looked like it wouldn't be Telford's day.

But Dawson created some space 25-yards from goal and unleashed a strike, parried from the Celtic keeper right into that man McCarthy.

He was on hand to bury the rebound and celebrate with the delirious travelling faithful.