CUP RESULT; Madison 5 Falcons 2

The 2013 season came to a sparkling end  for the Madison Celts with an epic cup win against the New Britain Falcons. The comprehensive 5-2 victory ensured the Celts finished top of their cup section,  with nine points out of nine, and a semi final spot awaiting them in the Spring!
However, after 45 minutes of this game no one could have predicted the final score. A goalless first half was testament to a very tough, hard fought game with chances few and far between. The half was peppered with some tough tackles, great runs and a bit of hammy play acting by the visitors. The best chances came to the Celts during the half but not before an opening onslaught by the Falcons that had the experienced Madison defence gasping for air. Some last minute saves by the Hulk and well timed tackles by the back four kept them out. As the half wore on the center midfield of Johnny B and Roniildo started to get a strangle hold of the game and the fantastic lung bursting runs by Carlos on the left wing had the Falcon's team chasing shadows. But the second half restarted with the game still in the balance at 0-0.
If the first half was tough for both teams the second was mainly a long painful experience for the Falcons as the Celts stepped it up and ripped them apart. The running and passing of the midfield quartet was proving too much for the Falcons and when the attack line kept pressing you knew something was going to give. The dam burst when Roniildo crossed a great ball to Kevin who managed to powerfully head the ball into the net even as he was falling backwards. A second goal came quickly for the Celts when the superb Johnny B slammed the ball in from a distance. At this point in the game Carlos and Johnny B were unplayable so it was no surprise when the evergreen Flaco scorched in the 3rd from a good thirty yards out. Another great set of moves involving, Johnaldo, Johnny B  and Kevin ended with a sweet lay off ball to JohnnyB who thumped the ball into the net for his second and the Celts 4th. With only 15 minutes left on the clock the only question left seemed to be how many would the Celts score? The ref had other ideas by presenting the Falcons with a lifeline by gifting them a penalty for the most innocuous shoulder to shoulder incident. The demoralized Falcons scored and gave themselves even more of a boost when they scored a second as the Madison defence went to sleep. But this was not going to be one of those back from the brink stories for the Falcons as Flaco beat the tired offside trap and went on a mazy run into the box and slammed the ball into the net for the Celts 5th of the game.
The whistle went and the Celts were done for the year with a great close out victory!

MAN OF THE MATCH; Some great performances by the back line and the Hulk when needed. Ruggero and  Roniildo were immense in the middle and the forwards were also great throughout the game. But the stand out performances were from the dynamic duo of Johnny B and Carlos!

Many thanks to LOTB for the great photos and the after match beer!

Over-40 'Intermediate' Group A 3-Nov-2013 New Britain Falcons FC 5 Naugatuck River Rats 0 3-Nov-2013 Madison Celtic FC 3 Trumbull Amici 0 10-Nov-2013 Trumbull Amici 1 New Britain Falcons FC 6 10-Nov-2013 Naugatuck River Rats 1 Madison Celtic FC 2 17-Nov-2013 New Britain Falcons FC 2 Madison Celtic FC 5 17-Nov-2013 Trumbull Amici 1 Naugatuck River Rats 3	Over-40 'Intermediate' Group A Pl W D L F A GD Pts 1 Madison Celtic FC 3 3 0 0 10 3 7 9 2 New Britain Falcons FC 3 2 0 1 13 6 7 6 3 Naugatuck River Rats 3 1 0 2 4 7 -3 3 4 Trumbull Amici 3 0 0 3 1 12 -11 0
Over-48 Group A 3-Nov-2013 Glastonbury Celtic FC 4 Greenwich United 0 3-Nov-2013 Darien Blue Wave 1 Polonia Falcon Stars FC 1 10-Nov-2013 Polonia Falcon Stars FC 3 Glastonbury Celtic FC 5 10-Nov-2013 Greenwich United 4 Darien Blue Wave 1 17-Nov-2013 Glastonbury Celtic FC 2 Darien Blue Wave 1 24-Nov-2013 Polonia Falcon Stars FC v Greenwich United	Over-48 Group A Pl W D L F A GD Pts 1 Glastonbury Celtic FC 3 3 0 0 11 4 7 9 2 Greenwich United (combined SASL teams) 2 1 0 1 4 5 -1 3 3 Polonia Falcon Stars FC 2 0 1 1 4 6 -2 1 4 Darien Blue Wave 3 0 1 2 3 7 -4 1
Semi-Finals -- Venues and dates to be announced, below TBA v TBA v
2013-14 CSSA Men's Over-40 'Intermediate' / Over-48 State Cup Winners