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Having defeated the league leaders, Ayrfield Utd, the previous week, it was 3rd placed, Real Transylvania, who were at the receiving end of another success for Celtic in this year's exciting AUL Premier B league campaign. Celtic moved into 3rd place with this 1-0 victory, thanks to Matthew McEntee's opportunist strike 12 mins from time.
The first half was evenly contested, with the sides level 0-0 at half time, though Real might have shaded it by virtue of their share of possession. Celtic were much more threatening after the break, with Simon Fleming and Ronan McGivern, becoming more influential. The creative Joey Crampton was back to his best along side Billy Thompson. John Byrne was holding the ball up well, while the industrious Matthew McEntee was pressing the Real defenders making it difficult for them to launch attacks. Matt was proving effective also with his penetrating runs on the left hand side. Those attacks that Real managed to make came to nothing thanks to the formidable back four of Dave Costelloe, Shane Dunne, Graham Fennell and Ray Kelly, who with a dogged determination and focus repelled anything that was thrown at them. Any shots that got through were competently dealt with by Kevin McGovern in the Celtic goal.
With 15 minutes remaining on the clock, it looked like a scoreless draw. However, Billy Thompson broke through on the left, but the chance eluded him. It was followed by an incisive ball from Simon Fleming in the middle of the park to Billy, and the big mid-fielder was determined to make up for the chance that had gotten away. He jinked inside the defender, and found John Byrne with the perfect pass, whose powerful shot was too hot to handle. As the ball came back off the Real keeper, it was Matt McEntee who raced in bravely and slotted home with aplomb, to earn Celtic the points and put them in 3rd place in the table.
The hard work of the management team of Ray Bowe, Jimmy Kelly and Philip Zambra, and the full squad of players has seen them bring about a massive transformation from languishing in 3rd last spot to being in the hunt for promotion to the top AUL Premier division after this victory, their fifth league win on the bounce. match action
AUL Div. 2 Sat: Celtic completed a double of wins for their AUL teams when the Div 2 side beat Mourne Celtic 3-2 away in Drimnagh. Ryan Flood and a brace from Aaron Nolan gave them victory.
