February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
“A lot of lads were out of town or injured,” Woodcock lamented. ” One played injured his knee and we came out for the second half with 10 men.”
That was the turning point for Celtic, who’d only turned up with eleven players.
Even then, they seemed on course for the semifinals when Argentine Andres Vacerazza scored with a spectacular effort direct from a corner in the 15th minute.
Making the most of their numerical advantage on resumption, Glen Cove pressed forward and were rewarded with the equalizer on the hour.
“We had a few chances after they scored but we couldn’t put it in the net. Then they scored their second,” said Woodcock.
Glen Cove never gave up even after the home side had sealed it with a third goal late in the game.
“Even with 10 players and not having a full team, our guys kept on fighting,” Woodcock proudly noted. “The guys are still a bit disappointed. It’s their first loss of the year,” he added.
Celtic qualified for the quarterfinals of the Flamhaft Cup without kicking a ball when their Long Island opponents Olimpia withdrew from the competition last month.
Emphatic 7-0 winners over Aley Pond in the first round, Celtic (6-0-1, 19) can now concentrate on their Second Division promotion campaign.
They lead their closest pursuers, Central Park Rangers by 6 points, with three other clubs: Clarkstown, Ridgewood and BW Gottschee sharing third place on the 10-point mark.
BHOYS SLIP
Lansdowne Bhoys lost another heartbreaker at Van Cortlandt Park, where New York Albanians came away with a 2-1 result from the First Division encounter.
Michael “Mogo” Flood (50th) scored from a stupendous lob 25 yards out to tie the game early in the second half after Albanians had led from the 26th minute.
However, two minutes later, the visitors replied in kind to Flood’s sublime finish to snatch the winner with a lobbed ball over the Lansdowne goalie.
“Things are not going well, but the effort is there,” the Bhoys’ Sean Hall said.
Lansdowne dropped to 3-5 (9) in Div. One (East), although they remain fourth in the six-team region, three points ahead of Koha and six in front of bottom side CD Iberia.
RESERVE POWER
Mark Maguire and Brendan Moran each had a goal in the Lansdowne reserves’ 2-0 victory over Albanians’ second team.
“Good game. Gavin Murray played brilliantly in central defense,” remarked Hall.
The Bhoys improved to 4-3-1 (13) in second place on the Div. One (East) Reserve standings – 4 points behind Pancyprian Freedoms who have a game in hand.
NIALL STRIKE
SC Eintracht’s Niall Boyle got on the score sheet in the Metro Div. Two side’s 3-0 romp over Eight Mile Creek at the Metropolitan Oval.
Peter Maris and Juan Andrade were also on target.