- OUR PARTNERS
A lot can change in 2 days. On Sunday Celtic were running riot, scoring at will, and in cruise control. Tonight in Sandyford, Lakelands bounced back magnificently from a 6-0 defeat to score a well-earned 2-1 victory. Lakelands fought for every ball, obviously intent on showing that they were not a team that deserved to be so badly beaten on Sunday. They got a break after 10 minutes when the ball bounced over the Celtic defence and the Lakelands midfielder latched on to it and scored from close in. This rattled the visiting Celtic players and they were finding it difficult to get a rhythm. It was Lakelands who struck again as Celtic pressed forward for an equaliser. The home side carried this 2-0 lead into the half time break.
Celtic did raise their game in the second half, but they were still not finding their team mates with the ball, again not being helped by the strong wind. In the final quarter of the game, they did find their range and they had a number of shots on target. James Bannerman, Costel Burlacu, Pedro and Alvaro Moreno all going close with their efforts. Joseph Dunne was venturing forward at this stage and he was within a whisker of scoring. Closest of all was Ethan Hoey who got the ball on the left hand side of the box and he rifled his shot into the bottom corner, only to be denied by one of many fine saves from the Lakelands' keeper. There was defending to be done as Lakelands still carried a threat, but Conor Lawless and Ahmad Niazi were repelling most of what came their way. Rubern Ahern was making a difference in the middle of the park, and was disrupting the opposition while setting up his team mates as the team tried to get a foothold in the game.The little that got through the Celtic defence was well dealt with by Theo Hennessy in goal. When you think back, there were few shots on target by Lakelands, but they still found themselves 2-0 up. Celtic got a lifeline with around 8 minutes to go when the ball was deflected into his own net by a Lakelands defender. The home side had their backs to the wall at this stage but despite great efforts by Celtic to get the equaliser, it was not to be. Fair play to Lakelands who were equally sporting in defeat and victory. Celtic must now dust themselves down and prepare themselves for the challenge from Dundrum FC this coming Sunday. The outcome of the season is still in their hands.
