Official Cup

TAYLOR DOME
Spectators: 169 (Terracing: 127, Seating: 39, VIP seats: 3) Armando Pallini made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eric Wallace in the 3rd minute of play. Beppe Chelodi received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 5th minute. Ray McLeish tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The Smiddy Celts fans' excitement grew in the 7th match minute when Smiddy Celts's Eric Wallace looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by David Connolly during the 13th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Ray McLeish made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Beppe Chelodi in the 18th minute of play. Ray McLeish made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Fabio De Cesaris in the 19th minute of play. 0-2 became the score in the 20th minute when David Connolly elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Smiddy Celts were furious when Logan Loudoun was red carded, 29 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. In the 28th minute, one of Smiddy Celts:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Smiddy Celts. Smiddy Celts:s Ray McLeish showed great skill when he stopped Fabio De Cesaris:s penalty. After some careless play in the Smiddy Celts defense, Fabio De Cesaris kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ray McLeish. The Smiddy Celts fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ray McLeish should have stopped the shot. 34 minutes into the match, David Connolly had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Armando Pallini. TAYLOR's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that David Connolly was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-3. An unexpectedly hard shot by David Connolly in the 38th minute of play forced TAYLOR's goalkeeper Armando Pallini to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 38 minutes into the game, Alfredo Genovese was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. TAYLOR's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Smiddy Celts the free kick. Alfredo Genovese hit a great freekick 38 minutes into the match. After having played for 43 minutes, David Connolly managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Smiddy Celts's supporters crossed their fingers, but David Connolly was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Beppe Chelodi during the 45th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Disappointed in the 1-3 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Bruce Reoch who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 52ndth minute tested the skills of Armando Pallini when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Armando Pallini made an important save on a dangerous shot by David Connolly in the 53rd minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Christian De Laurentiis during the 53rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Christian De Laurentiis kicked well hit freekick during the 54th minute of the match. Johnny Clyne kicked well hit freekick during the 54th minute of the match. In the 58th minute, TAYLOR's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after David Connolly fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. 59 minutes into the match, David Connolly had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Armando Pallini. TAYLOR's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that David Connolly was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-4. The audience thought a goal was coming when David Connolly got free with Armando Pallini in the 67th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Ray McLeish didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Fabio De Cesaris went, in the 69th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-4 was the resulting score. Bruce Reoch kicked well hit freekick during the 74th minute of the match. After 76 minutes, Eric Wallace mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Smiddy Celts and the TAYLOR players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Smiddy Celts getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Eric Wallace hit a great ball. Ray McLeish showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Fabio De Cesaris, who was totally free with the ball in the 78th minute. David Connolly who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 90thth minute tested the skills of Armando Pallini when he managed to save the team from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Beppe Chelodi in the 91st minute of play forced Smiddy Celts's goalkeeper Ray McLeish to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If David Connolly had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Innes McRorie could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 96th minute of the match, but Armando Pallini made a huge save. Smiddy Celts's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.