Gold spoils Celtic show
Jim Sinclair photo Celtic’s Paul Rudd, above right makes a play in Friday action at The Log. Gordon Head Gold grabbed a 2-0 win.
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Another good crowd was on hand at The Log Friday night, hoping to urge their VISL div-1 Celtic on to a win over the visiting Gordon Head Gold.
What the hosts discovered was a motivated and well-prepared gold squad who applied a fair amount of pressure while frustrating most of Sooke’s attempts at doing the same.
It was Gordon Head group that celebrated following an important 2-0 win.
There were opportunities presented to Celtic in the first half but each just failed to click.
Striker Mike Moon’s early free kick from 25 yards out, for example, bouncing right back to him off a defender only for the next blast to sail clear of the crossbar.
Gordon Head had a chance just moments later off a corner kick, a couple of players in good scoring position, each getting a head on it but seeing it clear the cages as well.
The next Celtic threat was again by Moon who streaked clear of the crowd after a loose ball deep in the offensive zone, only to see goalkeeper Nicholas Neacsu beat him to the ball by half a step.
Amid a spirited effort by both sides the visitors displayed some impressive skill, particularly from a fleet-footed forward named Craig Gorman who would open the scoring near the midpoint of the half. Gorman, in the deep crease, went up for a Rob Gathercole corner kick feed and nodded it home.
An energized gold group kept up the momentum and doubled their lead about seven minutes later – this time with Gorman returning the favour by feeding Gathercole (in a crowd at the left post) who headed in what would turn out to be the insurance marker.
Celtic refused to sag and set up several thrusts. Neacsu was full value for keeping Sooke off the scoresheet. Before the halftime whistle blew he just managed to get between the mesh and a Steve Scott rocket.
Sooke coach Scott Davison conceded that “lax marking” helped GH look better, but they did capitalize on their chances.
“We ratcheted up the intensity,” said Davison of the second half. “We had several chances which we did not capitalize upon.”
The word on Elton Clemence is he’ll likely be out for a couple of months with a knee injury.
Gold coach Steph Steiner:
“It was a great win for us. In the second half they pressured us and they were unlucky not to score. We were lucky to hold them off.”
Next up a home game this Friday, Oct. 9 versus Lakehill.
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