MATCH REPORT; Madison 4 Eagles 4

It was deja vu all over again as the Mad Celts threw away a 4-2 lead with ten minutes left on the clock to contrive a draw! The game started with the usual confusion about who was actually going to turn up for the game. Even though the Celts have a big squad its remarkable how many times we have to guess the defensive line up ten minutes before the start of a match. In such circumstances it is maybe no surprise that the first goal would come from a defensive error. A simple ball over a static back four allowed the Eagles speedy number 16 to outstrip El Gato to confront the isolated Hulk and score a go ahead goal. After that early debacle Jodingo!! slipped into the sweeper role and had an outstanding game. However, the damage had been done and now the Celts had to chase the game. Some petty tackles by the Eagles were missed by the ref allowing the steam to rise on both sides. Luckily some of that hot air was dissipated when a simple ball into the box by Carlos saw several failed attempts at taking a clean shot on goal before Halil finished the confusion by blasting the ball into the net. Unfortunately Madison were still allowing the Eagles to play their type of disruptive game and when not fouling they were falling over in the box. It was on one such occasion that the Eagles won a penalty as BOR was adjudged to have pushed down an Eagles player. Harsh to say the least, but we have been giving away a lot of penalties recently! A second goal was swooshed past the Hulk allowing the Eagles to go in at half time 2-1 up. After a rather unusual and unorthodox speech by the referee at half time the game got underway again. Madison then really took the game by the scruff of the neck with some great possession and great passing. Finally the game was going to plan and a great move allowed the equalizing goal for the Celts. The ball was moved down the Madison right side and into the box where a great ball over to Ruggero allowed him to slot the ball past the goalkeeper. His first goal for the Celts and the start of a period of total domination by the home team. Lots of shots and chances came for the Celts over the next fifteen minutes as first Tano and then Jorge all came close. The break through came for the Celts when Tano passed a great ball over to Talat who scored from one yard out allowing the Celts to take the lead. The icing was apparently put on the cake when a Carlos special was delivered from a free kick a good 30 yards out. The soccer magician floated in an unstoppable shot, over the head of the opposition goalie for an unassailable 4-2 lead. Did I just say unassailable? Unfortunately for the Celts, with only ten minutes left on the clock, the unassailable position turned into the unbelievable position as they dropped two stupid goals and two very important points. It has to be said, it will not be remembered as the Hulks best ten minutes in a Celtic shirt, although there was plenty of blame to go around. The first sign that the wheels were about to come off the Madison bus, for the second game in a row, was a terrible defensive scramble in the Madison box. One attempt after an other failed to clear the ball and just as it seemed the ball was going out the Hulk pulled down an opposition player in the box. Pulled down is maybe too fine a description ....from the sidelines it looked like a a full blooded rugby tackle! Another penalty, another goal and another path set for a soccer meltdown. Unbelievably, even with only a few minutes left on the clock, Madison pushed players forward to try and score another goal. Unbelievably, even though possession of the ball is probably the most effective way of stopping the opposition from hurting you Madison kept wastefully thumping the ball up the park. And then, all too believably, we let them score in the last minute..... another scramble in the box , a ball fumbled, and into the net it went. Unbelievable, but true....4-2 up with ten minutes left and yet another draw. This was more painful than the 6-2 loss to Orange!

The mercurial ref then rounded off a bad day at the office by giving us all an end of game speech about the three P's of soccer.... possession, position and passing! Just what we needed to hear!

The great thing about our team is that win, lose or draw we know how to have a good picnic! Some fantastic food was supplied after the game and even better company.

The next game will take care of itself, but both Orange and Guilford will be 8 points ahead of Madison if they win their games in hand. Still 12 games left in the season but we are making it a tough road to travel.

MAN OF THE MATCH; Seems odd to say, that in a 4 4 game where the team has let the points go so late in the game that two of the best players were defenders. Both Tom A ( in his return) and Jodingo!! had outstanding games with Jodingo!! earning the spotted dick award for his tenacity and consistency during the game