St Paul's FC | Football, London | stpaulsceltic.co.uk

Perfect start for Celtic to the season

St Paul's Celtic kick off their league campaign with 3 points with a hard-fought victory over AWDF Reds.

The match was a fiery affair with no shortage of action from the 1st whistle to the last. 8 goals, two of which were chalked off, one red-card, a dislocated shoulder and the artificial grass stained with blood, it was a great way to kick off our first season as a football club.

AWDF are a young team, but their experience of this particular surface was apparent from the kick-off. St Paul's struggled to cope with the bounce and run of the ball and as AWDF went route one, St Paul's followed suit, trying to utilise the height of Turley and Coull to no avail. Yet it was St Paul's who created the first chance of the game, O'Neill getting on the end of a lofted through ball to race clear, only for the opposition 'keeper to pull off an excellent one-handed save low to his left. This rallied us and the attacking quintet of Coull, Molloy, MacCann, O'Neill and Turley were starting to cause the Reds defence problems. St Paul's looked to have taken the lead on the half hour when Turley fired the ball into net after terrific play from Coull to take the ball in and make space for himself, however the assistant's flag maintained the stalemate.

Struggling to contain

Celtic were struggling to cope with the Reds' midfield pair whose clever interplay and quick movement almost outshone their indiscipline, and Hamilton in the St Paul's goal was almost tested when reds broke only to shoot from distance high over the bar. This was AWDF's only real chance of the first half, a testament to the St Paul's defence who been solid throughout, dealing with everything that came their way.

The last action of the first half was Molloy pulling up with a hamstring strain to be replaced by Rogan but the 2nd half would see St Paul's starting to find their groove.

We started to find some confidence in our own ability in the 2nd half, and our forward players were getting on the ball in much more dangerous areas. Reds' midfield pairing had been quietened and our passing had become crisper as we got more used to the zippy playing surface. Play was halted a few minutes into the half when MacCann went over from a fairly innocuous challenge, landing awkwardly on his shoulder and dislodging it from it's socket. He was replaced by Luiz Gustavo Wiechoreki who made an immediate impact, winning a challenge then skipping past a couple of tackles to send St Paul's on the attack once more. We were really starting to find our feet and all the play was in the AWDF half, we just couldn't create that clear cut chance.

Intimidation

AWDF's players continued with the intimidation techniques (we're mostly Scots and Irish, we don't get intimidated boyos) and Kennedy was scythed down by the aforementioned Reds' midfield two. Fortunately for him cramp prevented him standing up and repeating his handbags performance in the Mayfield friendly, and from finishing the game with Majid coming on in his place. The first legitimate goal of the game came a few minutes later, AWDF's number 9 finding too much space to set himself and launch an admittedly wonderful shot over Hamilton into the far top corner, sending AWDF's touchline support into raptures. However, rather than dampen Celtic's spirits this gave them a lift, and it wasn't long before the game was level once more. Majid won a tackle in the midfield, then carrying the ball past a couple of challenges, slipped a through ball for Coull who finished with aplomb.

It was a deserved equaliser and St Paul's were now creating chance after chance. Rogan should have finished off a superb individual move, rounding the 'keeper only for O'Neill to shoot wide, but the 2nd followed soon after. Turley was played into the inside right channel and cut inside his marker to score from an acute angle, St Paul's taking the lead. Then a moment of madness and confusion. Rogan won the ball from the opposition's centre half Giuseppe, arguably their best player, and played in Turley, however rather than chase the ball down Giuseppe confronted Rogan and the referee before taking off his shirt while Turley scored what everyone, players referee and assistant, thought was St Paul's 3rd of the night. After arguably too much deliberation, the referee already awarding the goal, and some infighting in the Reds' ranks, a free-kick was awarded in AWDF's favour.

Pushing further

The game was all St Paul's now, who had set up camp inside the Reds' half, and in the 75th minute Coull added his 2nd of the night. Latching onto a through ball, taking a touch past the 'keeper and driving the ball home from 10 yards. Rogan almost had a 2nd when his shot from inside the area flashed wide of the left hand post.

AWDF pulled another goal back from a rare foray into Celtic's half, Majid unfairly punished for a strong but fair tackle on the left wing, and from a fantastic delivery their striker glanced the ball over Hamilton to pull it back to 3-2. This spurred AWDF on and combined with St Paul's taking their foot off the pedal they started to pressure us once more. McBride was lucky to escape with a booking for kicking out at their winger, and Majid seemed to be getting unfair attention for his no-nonsense style. It was AWDF who were reduced to ten though, Giuseppe getting his name in the match report again after retaliating to a late Turley tackle, this time taking his shirt off for good and heading for an early bath. Reds seemed to be only interested in a scrap by this stage, not a wise idea with Butcher-Beelders, Mad-Dog-McGinley, Mental-Majid and Come-Ahead-Coull in the team…

The match was over as a contest with 5 minutes to go when Turley lashed the ball through the Reds 'keeper for his fourth goal of the night, with only two of them actually counting.

Battling

This was a proper blood, sweat and tears ding-dong battle and the perfect way for St Paul's to kick-off the season. We were far from our best but with time, and as we get used to the surface and the opposition, we should do very well in this league.

Hamilton showed yet again what a top quality goalkeeper he is, rarely having to make a save, he dealt with everything that came his way, and highlighted his ability as a footballer coming out to clear a long ball outside his area, cushioning a header past the attacker and then clearing. Beelders and McGinley, who only just shaded Coull for man of the match, were rock solid and are developing a very good understanding. McBride and McGuckin coped well with tricky wingers and got forward as often as they could. Turley took the game by the scruff of the neck in the 2nd period, scoring two important goals and two which won't go towards his season tally, and Calamity MacCann and Molloy were industrious before leaving the field injured. O'Neill came alive in the 2nd period and was instrumental in many of the goals, and Coull was excellent up front doing a difficult job as the lone out and out striker, taking both of his goals well and proving pivotal in all of our attacking play.

The substitutes really turned the game on it's head. Luiz showed ice-cold nerves on the ball and an ability to ghost past players and get stuck in, belying his size. Rogan's one touch passing and movement, coupled with the ease with which he left defenders in his wake, deserved at least one goal and he played a huge part in each of the goals, legal and illegal, in the 2nd half. Majid brought some steel to the midfield in an unfamiliar position and his determination and skill created the equaliser at the perfect time.

We didn't ever really get close to the level at which we can perform, but we still outplayed a talented side for large periods of the game, particularly in the 2nd half. Next game is in a fortnight's time against FC Bang, where we'll be looking to secure another three points and maintain our 100% start the season.

Team (4-5-1) Hamilton; McBride, Beelders, McGinley (capt.), McGuckin; O'Neill, Turley, Kennedy (Majid, '55), Molloy (Rogan, '43), MacCann (Gustavo, '47); Coull