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

Celtic extend their unbeaten run to 3 games

Stunning late equaliser for Celtic see them remain undefeated

Saint Paul's Celtic extended their unbeaten league run to three games last night, playing out a 1-1 draw with MTV. With the previous victory against Bang still in the hands of the League committee after the referee reported the match as abandoned, three points against the league leaders was essential, but in the end a draw was a fair result in a match that produced little quality.

Hamilton continued in goal looking for another clean-sheet, Luiz Wiechoreki lined up at right back with captain Mark McGinley moving to left back, and Ryan Beelders and Tim Wilson started in the centre of defence. Kennedy and Lacey provided the link between defence and attack, with new boy Neil Dowling making his debut in front of them. Width was provided by Molloy on the right and MacCann on the left, with Coull providing the goal threat in a lone role up front, hoping to add to his three goals in two games already this season.

early battle

Saint Paul's struggled to get hold of the game early on, with the ball failing to really stick middle to front. Chances were few and far between; MacCann raced through onto a Kennedy through ball but his shot from an acute angle was wide, before some good interplay between Lacey, Molloy and Coull resulted in the big striker getting a shot away that went just wide. The back four were rock solid, MTV feeding of scraps from distance that never really troubled Hamilton's goal, and full backs McGinley and Luiz were also getting opportunities to get forward and support the midfield and attack. However, MTV's midfield pair were starting to take control of the game and were being allowed too much time on the ball and this, coupled with an inability to hold onto the ball, saw MTV enjoy a spell of dominance.

The Celtic defence were superb though, and MTV were kept at bay with their only chances efforts from outside the box that were high and wide. St Paul's were brought to life after 30 minutes, a flashpoint between Kennedy and the MTV number eight awakening the Celtic midfielder from his slumber, and they started to finally take the game to their opposition.

Lacey was dominating the midfield and the wing play of MacCann and Molloy was starting to ask real questions of the MTV defence. Molloy could have won a penalty in the closing stages of the half but stayed on his feet, unable to get a shot away. McGinley and MacCann both had efforts from near the halfway line, neither troubling the MTV goal, and debut boy Dowling linked well with MacCan and Coull, MacCann's effort glancing past the far post with the MTV 'keeper beaten, before the whistle was blown ending a good spell of dominance for the hoops.

Under the pump

MTV came out the strongest after the break and again Celtic struggled to hold on to the ball in midfield and attack. The game was peppered with free-kicks, particularly from the MTV left-back who made up for total lack of ability with a knack of bringing down every player who went by him. The game never really flowed and as the wind picked up again St Paul's efforts to play in their forwards were thwarted by the elements and the MTV defence. Kennedy, Lacey and Dowling were again taking hold of the midfield but more often than not they were fouled after creating some space to attack. An excellent ball into the inside left channel from Lacey sent Coull racing down the wing and his cross was met by Kennedy's late run into the box, however the MTV centre half got enough on the ball to send it wide, the far side assistant awarding a goal kick rather than a corner.

Another flashpoint threatened to turn the game nasty, the MTV left-back again at the centre of things using an arm to impede Wiechoreki. The little Brazilian lost his temper and the pair had to be separated, both earning a caution. Coull was again released down the left and his excellent driven cross flashed across the face of goal with nobody able to get on the end of it. Kennedy had a header cleared off the line from a Molloy corner as St Paul's started to turn the screw, and Majid and O'Neill replaced Dowling and MacCann to try and inject some fresh impetous into the game. Kennedy made way for Butt to give Celtic more attacking options, but it was MTV who took the lead in the eightieth minute. The MTV striker lost his marker at a corner and nodded the ball over the line to open the scoring. It was a blow to St Paul's who had been on top for much of the half and the goal seemed to deflate the hoops players momentarily, however one thing that has not been lacking from the Celtic boys this season is spirit and a never-say-die attitude to their games.

Quick fire reply

Hamilton played the ball short to Beelders who in turn played it on to Lacey in midfield. The Australian looked up and hit a wonderful diagonal ball to Coull in the inside left channel. Taking a first touch to steady himself, Coull struck a beautiful thirty yard lob over the MTV 'keeper into the net for his fourth goal in only three games this season. It was no less than Celtic deserved as while the play was scrappy throughout the game, they again created enough chances to win the game outright. The defence was solid for ninety minutes, Ryan Beelders turning in a man of the match performance, but the midfield and attack never really got going in a game where again their problems were all self-inflicted.

Seven points from nine is a good start to the league campaign however, particularly when those games have been against sides who should be challenging for the title this season.