McDonald's Consolation Not Enough at Parkhead

Last updated : 22 October 2006 By Firparkcorner

There was no surprise in the team selection as Manager Malpas sent out the same starting eleven as had collected half a dozen points from the previous couple of games.

Racism gets the Red Card


We took the match to Celtic right from the kick off and had the first corner in only thirty seconds. There was no question that we held our own for the first half and only one moment's lack of concentration cost us.

A second half 'Well attack

After fifteen minutes Zurawski latched on to a ball over the top of our defence. Meldrum met him at the edge of the box and looked on helplessly as the striker took a side step and rolled the ball towards the empty net. But the ball was off target and trundling on its way harmessly by the far post until Craigan and Reynolds appeared yards from the goal line and the unfortunate captain sent it into the net.


We kept playing as much attackng football as we could and came close when McGarry then Elliot put the Boruc under pressure but we remained one down at the break.

There was no alteration to our approach in the second period. McDonald had a flyer at the postage stamp corner from long range and the game flowed from end to end.


We lost what turned out to be the winner in sixty six minutes. Again, it was a long ball which caused the problem. Zurawski collected at the edge of the box and despite the close attentions of Reynolds he got his shot away and Meldrum was beaten for the second time.


Celtic looked comfortable at this stage and the game seemed to lose some of the earlier pace. Clarkson replaced Elliot with fifteen minutes left.


The game came back to life within a couple of minutes. Quinn won a free kick thirty yards out on the right wing and McDonald pounced on the far post return from Reynolds to finish from close range.

The home side looked much less comfortable and the referee had to urge a few of them not to waste time.

Overall, we can be satisfied with the afternoon's efforts. We played a lot of composed football and can travel to the other side of Glasgow next week in the knowledge that a similar performance will give us a chance of taking a point or three.