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Hachioji Park, Saturday 31st January
If only Sala could face FJ Plate opposition every week, and play on nice dry pitches, their current transitional phase would be a lot easier to come through. However, with a waterlogged pitch and a hungry Celts team eager to cement their place in the TML above Sala, there was to be no easy ride in this match.
Indeed, it was strength and hunger, in these cold wet conditions, that were the key factors in the Celts' victory.
Sala looked good in the first 20 minutes, with Toby and Sam proving a handful up front, but with the Celts' penalty area heavily waterlogged most of Sala's moves came to a halt in the puddles, or were charged down by the Celt's keeper. The wet conditions gave the Celts' defence the extra yard they needed to catch up with Sala's pacy forwards, and as a result Sala's trickery and skill just wasn't enough to give them the lead they deserved.
As the game went on, the more physical and direct approach of the Celts started to look menacing. And, it seemed Celts would produce the first goal after Clarkey brought down their number 9 for a penalty. Sala's shouts that the tackle was outside the box looked to have been overlooked until the referee wisely consulted his linesman and changed his decision to a freekick on the adge of the area. Major controversy afoot! And the ref wasn't finished there. The freekick came to nothing, but then, amazingly, minutes later the same thing happened at the other end. Toby was sent through, rounded the keeper, and was clattered to the ground. The ref pointed to the spot again. Celts appealed and pointed to the linesman, and again the referee consulted him. This time though the linesman said the foul was in the box. Toby stepped up and blasted home his second spot kick in a week. 1-0 Sala.
Unfortunately, for Sala, it was at this point that Celts' power and desire became to much for them to handle. Celts began to bully midfield, Henry and Toru dominating, and their long balls and direct running began to stretch Sala's defence. A defensive mistake at the back whilst defending a free kick gifted them their equaliser. And so, it was 1-1 at halftime.
The second half started with a horrific blunder from Sala's keeper. Another Celt's free kick went straight through his legs and into the net. From here on it was all Celts, save for a consolation tap in for Ryoutaro at the end, and several long rangers from Shige. Celt's 3rd came from another keeper error, before their 4th was tapped in by Toru, after a long shot had bounced back off the bar. 4-2 Celts.
All in all, Sala are definetely a work in progress. Thankfully, they seem to have put an end to their internal bickering on the pitch but at the same time they've lost a bit of fight against the opposition. Finding the right balance will, in the future, take them back to the top of the table, but until then, sports fans, bear with us!!
Report by Scott Thomson
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