Only one change was forced on the team due to Toastie’s foot injury. Steven Craig formed the striking force alongside David Clarkson.
The game started and the two hundred or so ‘Well fans started the long vigil. Funny how some games take ages to pass! In fairness, we gave as good as we got in the early exchanges. Craig and Lasley combined well on the left wing to force the first of seven corners (Celtic managed two – but they also managed three goals).
Lasley was involved again in eighteen minutes when he passed to Pearson on the edge of the box. Lack of control caused the chance to be lost.
Celtic pressed more and more as the half progressed and in thirty minutes everyone in the ground, except the referee, thought they had the chance to go ahead. Larson was clean through on
The hosts, clearly annoyed by this seeming outrage, stepped up the pressure and we had to endure a barrage of attacks for fifteen minutes before the break. We were fortunate to survive and tribute has to be made to the central defenders in particular. Both Craigan and Partridge performed heroically.
The game restarted and before the crowd had settled we conceded the first of three. A quick free kick and a Larson header inside two minutes set the tone for the second period.
Undaunted, we pressed for an equaliser and Craig had to leave the field for treatment after his brave attempt to head from close range. But our best chance was yet to come. A wonderful passing move, covering three quarters of the pitch, ended with a pass to Pearson. He cut across the defence and had only the keeper to beat. He tried to flick the ball to the goalie’s right but a touch was enough to deny the leveller.
After that it was one-way traffic. Corrigan lost possession easily in midfield and within seconds Larson fed Sutton for the second. On seventy minutes Maloney struck a superb free kick into
Kenny Wright came on for Scott Leitch but little change in the pattern of the game followed.
Overall the team has to be applauded for the determination and skill they showed in trying to overcome Celtic at Parkhead. We can look forward to next Saturday with some confidence.