2010-07-24: Lincoln City 1-4 Celtic XI, Pre-Season Friendly

Match Pictures | Matches: 20102011 | 2010-2011 Pictures

Trivia

  • Neil Lennon brought a side down to play Chris Sutton's lower league Imps
  • Mostly the "development" side: Lincoln had advertised McGeady, McCourt and Juarez but none featured
  • The first sighting of Daryl Murphy
  • Playing time for several players who finished last season out on loan – Sheridan, Hutchinson, Conroy, Ferry
  • Josh Thompson was away playing for England U19s against France in the European Championships
  • For the 'John Reames Memorial Trophy' in honour of a former Lincoln chairman-manager

Review

Celtic started poorly with Paul Slane hobbling off after 10 minutes, then going a goal down on the quarter hour. The Lincoln winger outstripped Richie Towell and zipped the ball across for the other winger to fire low into the net.

Despite this inauspicious opening, Celtic were ahead at the break thanks to a twenty-yard shot on the spin from debut-Bhoy Murphy and a thumping close range counter from Hutchinson.

During half-time confusion abounded when Lincoln officials rolled out some plastic covering across part of the pitch, took some photographs by it, then promptly rolled it back up again!

Celtic tied up the result with two goals in as many minutes just after the hour. First Ben Hutchinson tapped in to save his blushes shortly after missing a free header. Then Simon Ferry curled in the goal of the match from long-range.

Inevitably, a series of second-half substitutions disrupted the flow of the game. Paul McGowan had played well in an unfamiliar midfield role, while centre-backs Rogne and Misun were never outfoxed by Lincoln's bustling journeymen strikers.

As for Lincoln, Sutton clearly has his work cut out. While he has a couple of speedy wingers his team appears muddled in defence and powder-puff in attack. Good luck this season Chris, you might need it!

Teams

Celtic (4-4-2): Cervi (Giordano 74); Towell, Rogne (D Gallagher 74), Misun, Conroy (Lowdon 82); Slane (Keatings 11), McGowan, Ferry, Sheridan (Fitzharris 82); B Hutchinson, Murphy (F Twardzik 64)
Goals: (Murphy 38, Hutchinson 42, 65, Ferry 67)

Lincoln City (4-4-2): Anyon; Hughton, Watts (Green 57), Swaibu, Anderson; Carayol, O'Keefe, Keltie, Jarrett; Broughton (Facey 23, A Hutchinson 76), McCallum (Kerr 66)

Unused: Clarke, Clapham, Miller, Musselwhite
Goals: (Jarrett 17)

Attendance: 3,780
Stadium: Sincil Bank

Articles

Pictures

KStreet

Stats

Goals

Lincoln City: Jarrett 16

Celtic XI: Murphy 38; B Hutchinson 41, 64; Ferry 66

Man-by-Man

Cervi – 6 – A couple of saves for the photographers, largely untroubled.
Towell – 5 – Struggled against pace. Even pace allied to League Two skill levels.
Misun – 7 – Untroubled. Has the intelligence and athleticism to sweep behind his defensive colleagues. Good left foot.
Ferry – 7 – Too good for Lincoln and a great goal.
Conroy – 6 – Kept Lincoln at bay and got forward to reasonable effect.
Rogne – 7 – Stood up well to limited but burly opponents.
Sheridan – 5 – Looked disinterested stuck out on the left wing. Moved up front when Murphy went off.
Slane – 4 – Crocked in the opening exchanges.
McGowan – 8 – Clever turns and great passing. Caught in possession once or twice – could be fatal at a higher level.
Murphy – 6 – Well taken goal but anonymous for long spells.
Hutchinson – 7 – Worked hard and grabbed two goals but missed sitters too. Goals down to poor goalkeeping.

Keatings – 6 – A couple of stray passes but helped win the midfield battle.
Filip Twardzik – 5 – Looked too slight for this level. Impression not helped by pink boots and long blond hair.
Giordano – 5 – Untroubled for the last quarter hour.
Declan Gallagher – 5 – Did nothing wrong but lacked Rogne's dominance at the back.
Lowdon – 4 – Willing, but no time to make an impression.
Fitzharris – 4 – Equally willing but the game was winding down.

Articles

debut goal for new bhoy murphy Laura Brannan
Source: Celticfc.net
NEW Bhoy Daryl Murphy opened his scoring account for the Hoops as Celtic came from behind to comfortably beat Lincoln City 4-1 and lift the John Reames Memorial Trophy.

The visitors managed to overcome an early scare and enjoy a goals fest against Chris Sutton's English League Two side.

Ben Hutchinson grabbed a double while Simon Ferry also got on the scoresheet in the fast-paced match which saw eight players make their first-team debuts.

Neil Lennon handed starts to Murphy, along with youngsters Ritchie Towell and Paul Slane, with six more earning their first appearance from the bench.

Paul McGowan had an ambitious effort curl over the bar on 11 minutes after Slane provided for him on the edge of the box. But the former Motherwell striker had to make an early exit almost immediately after failing to overcome a tackle minutes previous.

That handed James Keatings a debut appearance in the first-team as he slotted straight into Slane's position on the right wing.

The home side took the lead on 17 minutes after midfielder, Albert Jarrett, was allowed time to control a cross into the box at his feet and slot past Dominic Cervi's left post from close range.

Ryan Conroy, who started the match on the left wing, moved into the left-back role on 25 minutes, allowing the versatile Cillian Sheridan to leave the centre-half position and move onto the flank.

The tactical change looked to have paid off as Celtic began to pile more pressure on Lincoln's half, but still couldn't get the final touch on any chances they created in front of goal.

However, some fantastic passing play in midfield allowed Celtic to keep possession, and good link-up play on the left wing between Sheridan and Murphy saw the ball fed to the feet of Keatings, but his low drive didn’t trouble Lincoln keeper, Joe Anyon.

But the Hoops didn't have to wait long for the floodgates to open as two goals in quick succession put the visitors ahead just three minutes before the break.

The first came on 38 minutes when Murphy picked up a Sheridan pass on the edge of the box. With superb control, he turned with ease and cracked the ball off the inside of the keeper's left post and into the back of the net.

Just four minutes later, Hutchinson reacted quickly to a loose ball only yards from the goal line. Anyon parried a Keatings shot straight into the path of the English striker who slammed it home with impressive power, sending Celtic into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Lincoln came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second half, with Josh O'Keefe forcing Dominic Cervi into a fantastic diving save.

But Celtic, and in particular, Ferry, broke the home side down quickly, slicing their defence apart with a crisp attempt which was unfortunate to go just high of target.

Hutchinson doubled his tally on 65 minutes when he pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty box and curled it above the grounded keeper to extend Celtic's lead.

But the Hoops weren't finished and two minutes later Ferry controlled the ball 28-yards out and with no one closing him down, unleashed a swerving shot around Anyon.

Despite his best efforts, Hutchinson couldn't find his third of the afternoon and as the match progressed, substitutes Daniele Giordano, Declan Gallacher, Filip Twardzick, Sean Fitzharris and Jordan Lowdon also came on for their debut appearances in the first-team.

First half sub, Keatings, made a good run into the box on the 90th minute but failed to convert a final goal as the match finished 4-1 in Celtic's favour.