- OUR PARTNERS
Castleknock travelled to Fairview Park seeking to build on a great performance last time with the opposition being the renowned and classy Belvedere FC. On a damp heavy pitch Celtic started like an express train and were 0-1 within the first minute wen Luke Hughes fed Esse Okirikpo who powered the ball home from the edge of the box. Within five minutes Celtic were 0-2 up. A Hughes corner was met brilliantly by Esse whose header hit the cross bar with Ryan Sherlock in the right place at the right time to tip it home.
Belvedere were rocked and shortly after Celtic nearly made it three. Another Hughes corner another Esse Header but this time it was cleared off the line. With that let off Belvo re-grouped and started to play the football they are renowned for – passing,moving, creating options all the time. As we entered the second quarter slack defending allowed Belvedere in to make it 1-2. Their tails were up and within minutes it was 2-2 , again poor defending at the back not helped by a midfield that was slow to get back but still credit to the Belvedere striker for a quality finish to beat Max Ostaphchuk. HT: 2-2
From the start of the half Celtic and Belvedere were more evenly matched. The defence had weathered the storm with Ryan Mc Gregor and Denys Yaskersky re-asserting themselves before being further bolstered by the return of Sherlock. Ben Forde and James B were busy in the middle of the park with Conor Simmonds putting in his usual sterling shift behind the industrious Caitlin La Bont. The game was even, chances were limited but mid-way through the half Belvedere took the lead. A poor corner but Celtic went asleep allowing the Belvo midfielder run unchallenged before slotting the ball home with ease 3-2.
The game was open , both teams attacked at will. While Celtic enjoyed more possession they lacked the guile in the final third to create any clear cut chances while Belvedere showed the will as well as the technical ability to see them home. Indeed in the last minute it was they who came closest to scoring as they forced Max into a wonderful finger tip save. FT: 3-2
And so a disappointing day for Celtic who after a whirlwind start looked certain to take the points but over the course of the game they struggled on a difficult surface and while, as we always do, we got 100% effort we lacked the quality to bring home the spoils!!! As for Belvo credit to them for a great comeback. They showed heart, will and some lovely technical ability to ensure that at the end of the day just they just about deserve the points. One bit of advice to our opposition would be to have a quieter line with a little less verbals from their players.
