After the disappointing results of the last few weeks in both the Casuals League and the SAT League it was important for the boys to get some sort of result in one of the more eagerly anticipated clashes of the season so far. The clear message from the pre-match team talk was to come out fast and make a quick and positive start.
This is exactly how the game started with GAS immediately on the front foot and making sure they were first to every ball in the wet and windy conditions which were a welcome change (temperature wise at least) from the usual hot and humid Saturday afternoons. It didn’t take long for GAS to get themselves on the score board as following a hopeful ball over the top of the Celtic defensive line, Thomas was able to pounce and slot coolly past the keeper to give the boys a much deserved lead. GAS didn’t sit back on this advantage as the forward line continued to press their back four into giving the ball away and had the final ball been better another goal would have surely followed.
Unfortunately however, the next goal came from the opposition in a moment completely against the run of play. Another, even more hopeful ball over the top of the GAS back line allowed the Celtic forward to latch on a slip in into the bottom corner and level the scores at 1-1. This was a big blow for the boys as up until this moment they were dictating things and this was the first real chance of note for Celtic. There were a couple of other openings for GAS towards the end of the half but again the final ball or cross was missing and it was the opposition who then took the lead. The winger of Celtic raced down the right wing and got himself to the byline where he played the ball across the box and laid it on a plate for his teammate to tap in and make it 2-1, which is how the scores ended going into HT.
GAS came out in the second half looking to start the way they started the first half and to convert some of the chances that were going begging in the first 40 minutes. However, the game became very congested in the middle of the park and there were not too many chances of note for either side until a marauding run from substitute Anton teed up fellow Spaniard Josep to slide the ball in the bottom corner and level things up at 2-2… shouts of “VAMOS!” could be heard all the way from Madrid!
The final 10 to 15 minutes was very one sided in favour of the boys in black without any guilt edge chances being created, a couple of sighters from Julian’s right boot came close but in the end the scores finished level at 2-2 which was a result both teams would probably agree was fair in reflection.
Not the win GAS wanted but a definite improvement on the last 2 results against a notoriously tricky opposition.
MOM – Zak Aikens (aka. The Token American)