Green was the predominant colour on the terraces and Celtic had encountered few defences as green as the valley side Cwmbran's. The result was never in doubt, even before the game had started, but the Bhoys' lack of a killer instinct, especially in front of goal, meant the League of Wales part-timers were humbled but not humiliated.
A minute's silence was observed before the kick-off in memory of the former Celtic manager, Jock Stein, who died at Ninian Park 14 years ago after an international between Wales and Scotland.
The two sets of players then shook hands, but Cwmbran were shaking their heads within a minute of the start after conceding their first goal. Pat O'Hagan tipped Henrik Larsson's header over the bar, but an unmarked Eyal Berkovic gave the goalkeeper no chance with a 20-yard volley from the resulting corner.
Celtic scored twice more from set pieces in the first half. Olivier Tebily headed home after O'Hagan had flapped at a corner before Larsson converted Berkovic's free-kick.
Celtic were mildly more interested after the break and scored their first goal from open play after 52 minutes when O'Hagan could only parry Paul Lambert's drive and Mark Viduka followed up. Larsson then beat the offside trap to make it five.
Harold Brattbakk scored Celtic's sixth two minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Cwmbran: O'Hagan, Willis, John, Blackie, O'Brien, Dyson, Wigley (Aizlewood 72), Moore, Evans, Graham, Summers (Hughes 84), Aizlewood (Thomas 59). Subs Not Used: Morris, Pattimore, Goodridge, Sturch. Booked: Graham, Willis.
Celtic: Gould, Stubbs, Larsson (Johnson 80), Burley, Berkovic, Lambert, Petta (Blinker 45), Tebily, Riseth, Viduka (Brattbakk 80), Mahe. Subs Not Used: Wieghorst, Kerr, Healy, McKinlay. Goals: Berkovic 2, Tebily 20, Larsson 32, Viduka 52, Larsson 61, Brattbakk 84.
Referee: M Ross (Northern Ireland).
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