Celtic 3-0 Gretna: Uninspired Win

By: JT | December 31st, 2007

A below par Celtic defeated Gretna 3-0 on Saturday, maintaining their two point lead over Rangers in the SPL. Keeper Artur Boruc made his first appearance since having minor knee surgery, and his presence was required in the early going.

Boruc had to be at his sharpest during Celtic’s sleepy start because the Weddingmakers were firing rockets at the big Pole’s net from all angles. As we’ve come to expect, Boruc handled them all with his customary class.

Scott McDonald opened the scoring for the Bhoys a little beyond the half-hour mark. A long ball from the back was headed on to the onrushing Aiden McGeady by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. McGeady’s deft layoff for McDonald was hammered across the face of the goal, off the bottom of the left post, and into the net.

Early in the second half, Scott Brown killed the match off with a classic Scott Brown goal. His rampaging run through the heart of the Gretna defense was ably assisted by Massimo Donati, whose gentle layoff left Brown in ideal position to fire a low, left-footed drive out of the keeper’s reach.

Celtic were feeling pretty good, and nearly put the match to bed with two chances smashing against the woodwork. A fine run to the endline by McGeady culminated in a nice floating ball into the box, which the the streaking Paul Hartley headed against the bar. It would have been a goal to remember, but was just a hair off in the end.

McDonald had the opportunity to grab a brace, but his late drive bounced off the far post.

McGeady got his goal close to full time after a surging run from the left. His shot likely would have been saved, but a deflection wrong-footed the keeper. Celtic were on their way.

That’s a scoreline that we can look forward to for quite a while: 3-0 to the Celts. McDonald, Brown, and McGeady. Young, fast and talented. That’s what these Bhoys are all about.

Following the tragic death of former Celtic midfielder Phil O’Donell, Celtic’s matches with Rangers on 2 January and Motherwell on 6 January have been postponed. That means Celtic will not take the pitch again until Saturday 12 January when the Bhoys host Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup.

Enjoy the highlights of the romp over Gretna…