aussie rules as celtic extend spl lead

David Friel
SCOTT McDONALD came back to haunt his former Motherwell team-mates once again as Celtic moved five points clear at the top of the SPL with a 2-0 win.

The Australian striker followed up his midweek wonder goal against Manchester United with another stunning strike as the Hoops dug deep to secure the victory.

McDonald, who joined Celtic from Motherwell in the summer of 2007, has now scored seven goals in six games against his old club and went off to a standing ovation late on.

The in-form striker’s sublime finish killed the game after Paul Hartley had opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time. Motherwell finished with 10 men after the dismissal of David Clarkson.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee had promised that his side wouldn’t sit back at Celtic Park and stayed true to his word, with the visitors adopting an adventurous 4-3-3 formation.

This attacking system allowed Motherwell to create a few chances in the opening stages. In 11 minutes, Shaun Maloney had to clear a deflected John Sutton header off the line after Stevie Hammell’s corner had caused chaos in the Celtic box.

Replays showed that the ball may have crossed the line, but referee Dougie McDonald, positioned just yards away, waved away Motherwell’s claims for a goal.

Just minutes later, Chris Porter turned and forced Hoops goalkeeper Mark Brown – in for the injured Artur Boruc – into a smart save. The Motherwell striker would also send a header narrowly wide of the post.

Celtic weren’t having things all their own way at all but started to create a few openings, with McDonald heavily involved. First, the striker raced to dead-ball line and showed great vision to pick out the run of Scott Brown, whose low shot struck the outside of the post.

In 21 minutes, McDonald almost added another spectacular goal to his collection. Taking Hartley’s pass, he turned and crashed a drive towards the top corner, forcing Smith into a superb diving save.

Motherwell were competing all over the pitch and Celtic knew they were in a game. Clarkson was a danger and Gary Caldwell had to produce a saving tackle to deny the Motherwell striker in the box.

McDonald, diverting Hartley’s corner towards goal, was again foiled by Smith as Celtic started to take a grip of the game. Cillian Sheridan’s low shot from the corner of the box was also saved by Motherwell’s No.1.

Midway through the half, Scott Brown was switched infield, with Barry Robson moving to the right side, as Celtic started to pin the visitors back. The Player of the Month was driving his side on and chances started to fall Celtic’s way.

McDonald had the ball in the net in 42 minutes. Andreas Hinkel cut inside and picked out the striker at the far post. The Aussie grappled with Paul Quinn as he headed home and was penalised for a foul.

Yet, Celtic wouldn’t be denied for long and it was a goal that Hartley had waited almost two years for – his first at Celtic Park. Sheridan did the spadework with an intelligent run and low cross that was cleared to the edge of the area.

As the ball landed 20 yards from goal, Hartley was lurking and took one touch before rattling a low volley through a ruck of players and into the bottom corner to put Celtic ahead.

A limping Maloney was replaced by Paul Caddis minutes after half-time to add to Celtic’s injury woes and the substitute was involved as Motherwell were reduced to 10 men in 58 minutes.

Caddis, operating on the left side of midfield, tracked Clarkson’s run down the wing and was caught by a flailing hand as the two players jostled. Referee McDonald immediately flashed a red card.

That incident came just seconds after Motherwell had spurned a glorious chance to equalise when Porter, taking a Sutton knock-down in his stride, managed to miss the target from six yards.

Motherwell tried to search for the equaliser but McDonald finished them off in style in 71 minutes. Picking up a loose ball, he drifted forward and sent a low drive into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Celtic strolled through the rest of the match and the supporters got a first glimpse of Koki Mizuno, who came on for his competitive debut and almost grabbed a third with a drive.

Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC…2
(Hartley 44, McDonald 71)
MOTHERWELL…0

CELTIC: M.Brown; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson; S.Brown, Hartley, Robson (Donati 77), Maloney (Caddis 49); Sheridan, McDonald (Mizuno 88)
Subs not used: Fox, O’Dea, Naylor, Hutchinson

MOTHERWELL: Smith; Quinn, Hammell, Reynolds, Malcolm, Lasley (Murphy 66), Fitzpatrick, Hughes; Sutton, Clarkson, Porter (O’Brien 66)
Subs not used: Nielson, Smith, McGarry, Page, Connolly

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Hartley