MATCH REPORT; Orange 2 Madison 3

Madison's much heralded entry into SASL Division 3 got off to the best of starts with a hard fought 3-2 away victory against fellow Division 3 newcomers Orange. It felt odd starting a new season without truly completing the last one and I would admit to a bit of nerves before kick off. Not knowing what standard the opposition would be was a bit worrying. Orange had previously played in the over 30's league and would probably have " youth" on their side. But while they had had a Summer break, Madison had been playing non stop since April. As it turned out Madison got off to such a whirlwind start those nerves and worries quickly dissipated and were replaced with the urge to win this game as well as we could. A strong Madison line up with Halil back in the team after his vacation and Arniesto back from injury meant we were well prepared for a robust looking Orange team. The Celts kept good possession of the ball in the opening quarter of the match and passed it around smoothly, taking up good positions around the players with the ball. Carlos looked to be in the mood for a great game and the defence looked solid in the early skirmishes. The biggest failing in the opening twenty minutes was that Madison did not really test the opposition goalkeeper even with the huge amount of ball possession that they were enjoying. Safet was the main goal threat at this point with his aggressive running but he was having no luck in front of goal. Just as it looked like this may start to frustrate the team a move down the left saw Fribeka play a lovely ball to Safet who moved into the box and slammed the ball past the goalie to give the Celts a well deserved lead. Orange started to attack with a lot more determination and vigour after this set back and some of their best chances came in the ten minutes leading up to the half time break. Their main tactic of lobbing the ball high over the midfield and last line of defence to fast running strikers is never one that the Madison team have dealt with well. The prolonged use of this tactic began to put the Celts defence under some pressure and they were clearly taking too long to clear their lines. And, just before the HT whistle a poor clearance fell to to an opposition player about 30 yards out and he wasted no time sending a bullet of a shot past the static defence and the outstretched arms of The Hulk. The goal had been coming but it was clearly frustrating to lose a goal so close to the end of the 45.
Madison started the second half in the same way as the first with good possession and passing but they were still unable to get decent shots on target. Great running by Carlos down the wing was allowing plenty of opportunities but the strikers were mistiming their shots or getting caught in offside positions. The Celts defence was still holding strong, with some great defending by The Hulk, La Boca and Goggs, but was increasingly getting pressured from the attacks of the Orange forward line. The game was on a knife edge at this point and could have gone either way. It was then that Carlos decided to take matters into his own hands with a mazy run down the right wing down to the opposition bye line where he shaped to cut the ball back into the box but instead shot from an acute angle past the goalie and in for the Celt's second on the day. The goal took some nervousness off the Madison team and they really started to pile on the pressure. A disallowed goal from Safet seemed to spur them on even more and once again it was Carlos that made the decisive move. Receiving the ball in the box he wasted no time controlling it then blasting it past the goalie for his second and Madison's third. The Celts had two more clear cut chances to score after this but gradually the game started to wind down but not before a sting in the tail. Another poor defensive clearance allowed the opposition to score a consolation second goal just before the final whistle sounded. A great first win in the SASL for the Celts but some more work to be done learning how to finish off a game!

MAN OF THE MATCH; Carlos, for his great running and two superbly taken goals. La Boca was close behind and Halil and Safet deserve some mention for their great running and all round performance