SF Celtic Reserves v Star SC 4/7/02
After weeks of postponement due to rain, the SFSFL kicked off its 100th season in style with a cracker of a match at the Polo Fields between SF Celtic Reserves and Star SC. With the blurb in the league newsletter choosing loathsome Star to win Division Two and Celtic to finish about mid-table, the stage was set. And so the battle raged…
Newly appointed captain Jefferson Hunter won the toss for Celtic and the highlight of the game did not take long to arrive. The ball was played up to Vlad Margulis, the Ukranian maestro, who cheekily backheeled a defense splitting pass into the stride of Capt. Hunter, who dribbled effortlessly to the top edge of the box and proceeded to fire a beauty into the lower right corner of the net leaving the goalkeeper with an awe struck look on his face.
Leading 1-0, Celtic began to dominate the game physically and won every 50-50 ball to be had. It wasn’t until about the 40th minute that Star were able to equalize. A free kick was given for a foul by Greg Hartker, unfairly penalized and booked for what was a sublime tackle. The ball was chipped into the box, partially cleared, and then bundled into the net. The referee was asked about both the offside and the obstruction of keeper Justin Amirault - to which he replied: “Goal.” Fair enough.
Tied 1-1 at the break, Celtic regrouped, re-hydrated, and went back over the game plan with coaches Kiran Gowda and Chad Hinson. With the squad agreeing that the game was proceeding as planned, they took the field for the second half, with few changes. After the first 10 minutes Star went ahead 2-1. A momentary lapse of concentration at the back allowed a Star forward to pounce on a loose ball and his deflected shot left Amirault helpless. Ridiculous antics ensued. The striker who scored proceeded to rip off his shirt to reveal a t-shirt which read: "I'm a STAR", while pointing at himself saying, “Look at me! Look at me!” This would have been bad enough but he continuously pulled the Serie A 'fall down in the box and pretend you were fouled' trick. I’m not sure which of these antics was more delusional / hilarious.
Down 2-1, the bhoys dug deep and went on the attack. The defense, led by calm and collected Bill Getty and wily veteran Chad Hinson, began to shut down the Star attack and pushed Celtic into the opposing half. The second half saw Christer Kolshus dominate the middle of the park and beautifully control the ball in the attacking third, creating a number of chances. With the aggressive wing play of Sam Pearlman and Dale Webber, coupled with the trickery of Margulis, Celtic looked odds on to grab an equalizer. Eight minutes from the finish saw Kurt Dittmar beautifully control a hopeful ball, outpace the defender and calmly slot the equalizer home. Tied!
The last five minutes saw a flurry of attacks from the opposition, one of which required a goalline clearance by Kevin Kitchingham and some of the more sparkling keeping efforts of the match from Amirault. While Celtic dominated the majority of the second half, a concerted defensive push was required to finish the match with a point. Given that we dropped both games to Star last year, the effort was a success and set the stage for a smashing rematch later in the season.
SF Celtic Reserves v Berenice Reserves 4/14/02
On what was surely one of the windiest days in months, SF Celtic Reserves and Berenice Reserves shared the points in a well contest game in round 2 of the SFSFL's Divsion Two.
Due to an injury to 'keeper Justin Amirault, winger Sam Pearlman pulled on the gloves, started in nets and went on to make three truly excellent saves in the first half. The Celts saw their best chance fall to Jefferson Hunter, about 35 minutes into the first half. Capt. Hunter timed his run to perfection and was left with a one-on-one, but mysteriously thwarted by the opposing keeper. A couple of opportunistic efforts by Vlad Margulis and Dale Webber came to no fruition, with the score tied at the break 0-0 at the break.
The second half saw Celtic with their backs to the wind and possessing straight from the kick-off. A number of drives down the right wing proved fruitless. The best chance in the second half came off of a volleyed shot form Kurt Dittmar who saw his first touch glance the right side of the post. The craftiest attempt of the half began with a cross from Tim Sears which found its way to the acrobatic bicycle kick of Dustin Sellers, who rocketed the ball at the goal but straight at the keeper. A great effort that almost was. A commanding sweeping display by Greg Hartker, solid defending from Mike Pulliam and the fancy footwork of Chad Hinson (he left a couple of their forwards scratching their heads) were enough to seal the clean sheet and leave both teams still searching for their first win of the season.
While it’s usually easy to find fault with the other team’s whinging, this was not the case with Berenice reserves who played as tough a game as they were given and have to be respected for the effort they put in (though there were 3 or 4 players that I did not see on the pitch for them the week beforehand…hmmmmm). SF Celtic Reserves have to be happy with the improvement over last year's start, but are still hungry for their first win of the season....beware Overlords!
SF Celtic v Sons of Italy 4/14/02
It's important for Celtic to have registered points on the board, important they played and fought together as a team, important that they were disappointed they only drew and most importantly, that they know they can still do so much better. This is a long season and self belief is probably the most important ingredient into making it a successful one.
The game kicked off amid very blustery conditions. Celtic, with the wind at their backs pressed forward and applied all of the early pressure. New kid up front Mark Smith, busied himself chasing down defenders and showed a good turn of speed with the ball at his feet. His partnership with fellow, striker, "goal machine" Baru Harsa, looks like it could give many defenders sleepless nights before they play Celtic, if they continues to gel together like it has. At the other end of the pitch, Will Borberg, another new signing for Celtic, lorded over Sons of Italy's long hopeful balls into their tall strikers. Will was immense as he headed out every man and ball that went near him. The back trio of Borberg, Andy Roper
and Fergal Cleary all played well and the final score line didn't do justice to their effort.
Celtic opened up the scoring after about 15 minutes. Norwegian starlet, Harald Heggelund, who plays in the roving role behind the front 2, picked the ball from 30 yards out. He surged forward and let loose with a power drive which smashed into the bottom corner of the net. A fantastic goal! Smith had a good chance 10 minutes later but his effort hit the side
netting as Celtic began to dominate. Sons of Italy will have been relieved to have only been one down when the ref blew his whistle for half time.
In the 2nd half, with Celtic playing into an ever stiffening wind, Sons of Italy started to come forward in droves, in search of an equalizer. Celtic's defense was standing tall, until a lapse in concentration allowed a SoI striker to beat the offside trap. As Gowda advanced from goal, the ball was cooly chipped over his head and into the net. 1-1.
Sons looked like the better team at this stage and with a gale force wind behind them, were playing with great confidence. However, tigerish play from Celtic's never say die midfield got Celtic back into the game. It was their ferocious tackling that forced the turnover which led to Celtic's 2nd goal. After a ball was played up to Harsa, he turned his marker inside out and was unlucky to see his shot saved by the keeper. But, as all good strikers do, he followed up on the rebound before it went wide and smashed the ball across the goal. The ball hit a SoI defender and deflected into the goal. They all count! 2-1.
With only 5 minutes to go SoI, who were throwing everything they had forward, got the equalizer they hardly deserved. A cross from the right wing found its way to the back post where it was headed across the goal, underneath the outstretched reach of Gowda. 2-2.
All in all Celtic should have won. Next time. A win next week vs Peru will propel them to the top half of the division.
(Celtic 1-2-4-1-2) Kiran Gowda, Andy Roper, Fergal Cleary, Will Borberg, Brett Mills, Colin Danaher, Jeff Burgess, Amir Rizkalla, Harald Heggelund, Mark Smith, Baru Harsa. (Subs Used) Allan Buehler, John McNally, Camilo Saab
Man of the Match: Will Borberg
SF Celtic v Club Peru 4/21/02
A beautiful day at the Polo Fields - an apt setting for Celtic's masterful display of football as they annihilated their old foe Club Peru 3-0. This game will hold a place in the fans' minds for many years to come, as the bhoys scored three of the best goals in recent SF Celtic memory. Coach Gowda will have seen many things to be happy about, none more so than the constant development of his players as they adapt to his 1-2-4-1-2 system. If this progression continues, then Celtic will be a good bet to at worst solidify their current mid-table position, and maybe even challenge for a top three spot in the Majors. Next week's game against pre-season title favorites Club Marin will be a litmus test for the Celts.
Club Peru would be the first to back up the claim that Gowda's Celtic are a force to be reckoned with. They were quite simply played off the park, by a fitter, technically superior and (Harald Heggelund aside) a much better looking team. As Fergal Cleary pointed out to everyone before the game, Brett Mills, with his dashing new highlights, gives the team that N-Sync look that they simply didn't have last year and Allan Buehler doesn't look like a caveman from 1000 B.C. anymore. Coach Gowda is without doubt having an effect on this team.
The game itself was only 20 minutes old when a Colin Danaher free kick from the left wing found its way to the back post, where Will Boerberg thundered past everyone and connected with a superman-like diving header. A great goal for Will, who has never before scored, in any soccer game, ever. One look at his close control and you would see why. That was a much needed goal for Celtic, as Peru were having the better of the opening exchanges.
It was 2-0 shortly afterwards, when possibly the best Celtic goal ever, was scored. Norwegian star, Harald Heggelund, picked up a loose ball 30 yards from goal and as he moved towards the box, he literally smashed the ball into the top corner, almost bursting the net in the process. An amazing strike. **Side note** allegations that this was a total fluke have not been 100% proven and thus should not be mentioned...
Meanwhile, as Peru were coming to terms with being 2-0 down, the Turkish hit man Baru Harsa bullied his way onto a sloppy backpass and found himself in a one on one with the keeper. As cheekily as you like, Baru chipped the on-rushing keeper from the edge of the box. Brilliant! 3-0 Celtic!
Celtic had multiple changes thereafter, but their final pass was poor. However, as Coach Gowda said at half time, a clean sheet was the most important thing and that's what he got. Great stuff guys! Keep it going.
(Celtic 1-2-4-1-2) Ethan Flad, Andy Roper, Fergal Cleary, Will Boerberg, Brett Mills, Colin Danaher(c), Camilo Saab, Allan Buehler, Harald Heggelund, Mark Smith, Baru Harsa
(Subs Used) Adam Smith, John McNally, Amir Rizkalla
Man of the Match: Baru Harsa
SF Celtic Reserves v Overlords 4/21/02
Undefeated! Usually this has better resonance with football players. This was not the case for the Celtic Reserves though, after drawing 3-3 with lowly Overlords.
Celtic deservedly took the lead early in the match, when about 18 minutes in, Mike Pulliam grabbed the ball at the eft hand side of the box, weaved a bit here and there, shook his defender and drove an 18 yard shot into the lower right corner - a wonderful striking effort from the marking back. Overlords tied the game 1-1 after a ball that was called for in the middle was stolen and then placed over keeper Amirault for a score.
Kurt Dittmar got the first of his brace later in the half when a ball crossed from the right from Man of the Match Tim Sears, bounced in the box and then found the head of Dittmar who thundered it into the net. The Celts were not done there. Dittmar grabbed his second later in the half to make the score 3-1 at HT.
The second half was a different story. Overlords cut the deficit, when 20 minutes into the half the opposing keeper launched the ball to his striker, who outpaced the defence and slotted home to make it 3-2. Celtic tried to hunker down on defense, where Greg Hartker put in another commanding performance, but alas gave up a 3rd goal with about 15 minutes left and came away sharing the points. 3-3.
Three ties in a row leave the side undefeated, but a win next week would propell them right up the table. SF Celtic Reserves face a first placed IFC side where they will hope to exact revenge for this disappointment.
(Celtic 1-2-4-1-2) Justin Amirault, Greg Hartker, Chad Hinson, Mike Pulliam, Christer Kolshus, Tim Sears, Bill Getty, Kevin Kitchingham, Vlad Margulis, Kurt Dittmar, Jefferson Hunter
(Subs Used) Mike Fryer, Sam Pearlman, Dale Webber
Man of the Match: Tim Sears
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