MATCH REPORT; Milford 1 Madison 4

MAGICAL MADISON BLOW MILFORD AWAY

Madison went top of the league today with a scintillating display of controlled, assertive possession and superb clinical finishing. Milford Magic were easily blown off their perch at the top of the table with a season best performance from the Celts. Madison started the game on fire and held over 90% of the possession for most of the first 30 minutes of the game. The undefeated league leaders Milford did not know what had hit them and looked devastated as the ball became a total stranger to them. This was easily the best performance of the season so far from Madison. Almost every player on the field was up for the game and playing to their best form. La Boca started in an advanced midfield position allowing a slightly injured El Flaco to play at the back. A new player called Safet also had his debut today and what a game he had! Celtic dominated the opening skirmishes of the game with some great interplay between midfield and the strike force. Halil and Roniildo held possession well, as did La Boca, feeding the ball to Tano and Safet. Jorge playing in a slightly deeper forward role was also playing some great one touch passing and overall Milford Magic could do nothing in the opening half hour to get the ball out of their half. The unoccupied Madison goalie, Bruce, was so bored he was seen in the distance finishing a detailed tapestry depicting the last Red Sox World series win! But, Madison have been in this position before dominating possession and losing a sucker goal and failing to take their own chances. Not this time, not this game. The first goal for Madison came from the golden boot of Jorge after he found himself in a position outside the Milford box. It did not look like there was any chance for him to do what he did which was to curl the ball over and past the despairing dive of the Milford goalie to nestle the ball in the corner of the net. A well deserved opener for the Celts, and as they kept pressing a second was not to be denied them. This time a great ball out to Bambi on the right side of the field allowed him to sweep the ball into the box where Tano was their to crunch the ball into the net for the Celts second of the match. At this point in the game Madison could have scored 4 or 5 more but maybe were trying a bit too hard and were leaving some gaps at the back. Against the run of play the lone Milford striker went on a fast break trailing Carlos and Roniildo in his wake. When he got to the Celtic penalty box he did not hesitate to slot the ball past Bruce to cut the Celts lead in half. The goal clearly shook the Madison team out of their slight lethargy and set up a swift response with a fantastic move that swept the ball up the right side of the field this time to La Boca who sent a sweet, inch perfect ball into the box that was met by Safet who tucked it into the net for his debut goal and Madison's third of the game. The half finished with Madison in total control of the game and some superb first half performances by almost all of the team.

The second half started with Madison still exerting significant possession and showing some really creative play. Not surprisingly Milford where getting more of the ball this half as the Celts tired but whenever they got a shot on target Bruce was there to meet the challenge. However, the game was effectively finished as a contest when debut bhoy Safet scored his second and Madison's 4th of the game after only ten minutes of the second half. The rest of the half was a much more even game compared to the first half but the Celts were never in any real danger of losing another goal and eventually ran out well deserved winners and new league leaders.

Man of the Match; There were many contenders today as most of the midfield and strike force played so well but it would be churlish not to give the MOM to debut player Safet for his two great goals!