MATCH REPORT; Madison 3 Guilford 1

The Celts got off to the best of possible starts to the new season with a well earned victory over their closest geographical rivals, Guilford. A huge squad of twenty two players turned up for the first game of the new season in Division 2 with new players John B, Edison and Edgimar playing big parts in the win.

A gloriously sunny April day was a welcome start for the new soccer year and the three man referee squad was an acute reminder that this was a very different league! The game started with the Celts playing as though they had been practising for weeks prior to kick off. The comfortably recognisable midfield of Carlos, Fribeka, Roniildo and Halil started the game strongly for the Celts. With Jorge and last years top scorer Tano up front ensuring Guilford were on the back foot from the start. Although a few misplaced passes here and there were a sign of pre-season rustiness for the most part Madison were starting the season strongly. Of the new cohort of players Edgimar was the first to shine as he started a master class in defending from the back. Next up to impress was John B with a strong hard running performance from midfield. By the time the game go to the thirty minute mark the Celts were in control of the game even though Guilford looked like the better passing team. Some probing shots by Guilford were mopped up easily by the Madison defense and when the Hulk was called into action he was up for the challenge. The game changed dramatically when new bhoy Edgimar met a fabulous cross to head the ball into the net and put the Celts one nil up. This was a well deserved goal and really was just reward for the dominance the Celts had been showing. Guilford were sparked into action by this set back and nearly got an equalizer but the shot was stopped on the line by the well placed TomP. But the half finished with the Celts on top and raring to go in the second half.

Edison had joined the action just before the half and showed some real drive at the start of the second half as the Celts tried to consolidate their lead. It wasnt long before they did as they won a free kick on the Guilford right side of the field. Edgimar strode up to take the free kick and blasted a scorcher of a shot into the box where Carlos was on hand either smartly dummy or flick the ball into the net. Without replays i think the goal goes to Edgimar but i'm willing to be corrected. Anyway it was now two nil to the Celts and they were strolling to their fist victory in the new Division. Of course, it never goes that smoothly for the Celts and as the half wore on Guilford started to push the Celts further and further back on defence. Even a clownish fifteen minutes by Johanldo making his return from injury after 5 months didn't let Guilford get a goal but you could tell it was coming. With Madison unable to clear their lines effectively Guilford nipped in and scored. Now there was only one goal in it and Guilford were trying hard for the equalizer. Just as it looked like Madison might cough up a point to Guilford the fabulous Carlos went on a great mazey run and scored a great third goal for the Celts. You would think that would be that but Fribeka decided to make things interesting by handling the ball in the box ( again) to give Guilford a penalty. Luckily for the Celts the Guilford forward blasted the ball high over the bar and fairly shortly after the ref called an end to a very competitive match. A great three points to win and great debuts from the new bhoys. The only major cloud in the game was the knee injury top Paulo that may keep him out of the rest of the season

Man Of The Match; Great performances from the new guys and some of our old guys too, including Halil, Carlos, Tom A and Ruggerho but MOM goes for a fantastic performance by Edgimar!