CSL Roundup: Celtics bounce to beat Gaels

It looked gloomy early on for the Ian Woodcock-drilled Celtics when first Gaels goalie John Water stopped a Michael Thomas penalty and then veteran Derek McKenna shot Astoria ahead (25th minute).
Celtic finally found their rhythm on the hour when Thomas made amends for his penalty miss with a timely equalizer. Two more goals followed in quick succession from David Linn (65th) and London native Freddy Estiakoh (70th) and Gaels were suddenly on the ropes.
Glen Richie narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the 80th minute but Celtic (1-2, 3) held on to claim their first points in Division Two.
There was mutual admiration in both camps after the hard fought affair.
“All in all, a good game,” said Woodcock. “Both teams played well.”
“No complaints,” Gaels’ John Rabbit offered. “It was a good game and [Astoria] played well.”
Gaels dropped to 1-2 (3).

LANSDOWNE HEART-BREAKER
First Division Lansdowne Bhoys were five minutes away from a much-needed first win of the season when the roof caved in at Brooklyn’s McCarran Park. They lost 2-1 to Polonia.
A penalty by Lukasz Bielen (85th) followed by another strike by Dartosz Pietrzko three minutes later saw the Poles nick all three points.
“We nearly had it,” Lansdowne coach Paul Doherty lamented his club’s fourth straight loss.
They were in the driver’s seat from the 43rd minute when Damian Mescall flew down the left, beat a man and centered for 20-year-old Dessie Beattie to tap in.
It was going well for the Bhoys — with Beattie and fellow midfielder Mark Maguire controlling the tempo — until late in the second half, when Polonia won the penalty and turned the game.
“It’s a tough one to swallow, but that’s the way it goes,” sighed Doherty.
Lansdowne, on bye in next weekend’s Manning Cup first round, have two weeks to regroup.

FIRST WIN
Shemie Kelly (30th, 65th) and Anton Toner (70th) scored in the Lansdowne reserves’ first win, a 3-1 decision in the curtain raiser.
Michael Siwiec, the club president, connected for Polonia.
“We were more of a team,” said reserve coach Aidan Corr, whose men were coming off a 6-1 shellacking by Barnstonworth Rovers.
Dwaine Lacey, brilliant in his first start at left fullback after previous appearances upfront, received Man of the Match honors.

ROCKS PEGGED
Randall Freedman had his match-opener (60th) canceled out 10 minutes from time in the Shamrock Over-30s 1-1 draw with Barnstonworth Rovers ‘B’ at Msgr. McClancy High School.
The center half nodded in a corner served by Irish Echo soccer columnist Joe Behan and the Rocks looked good for the points until Rovers were awarded a free kick outside the box from which they leveled.
Robbie Walsh nearly pulled it out for Shamrock in the 88th minute, but his rasping shot hit the woodwork.

GUILDEA STRIKE
Later at Msgr. McClancy, John Guildea, one of several Over-30 players that saw double duty on the day, was on target in the first half in the Rocks’ 1-1 Metro Div. 2 tie with SC Eintracht.
Guildea finished off a move that started with Donald Kelly’s ball winning tackle in midfield. Kelly released Emmet Harvey who crossed from the right for the ageless stalwart to bang home after 35 minutes.
Held to draws in their two previous Metro games, Shamrock were denied a first victory by Gavin Rhodes’ late leveler (70th).
Sean Keogh was nonethless pleased by the commitment of Guildea and his Over-30 teammates, among them Owen Sweeney, Paul Wilson, Walsh and Behan, who played in both games.
“The veterans came through above and beyond,” Keogh said.

McCARTHY DRAW
Foday Kangeay’s first half strike (40th) and an own goal by sweeper Haygaz Aydoudu (57th) were not enough to secure ASA McCarthy the points against Homenetmen at Wards Island.
The Armenians came from behind to tie the Metro Div. 1 fixture 2-2, courtesy of Aram Nourikian’s double (60th, 61st).