1971-11-03: Sliema Wanderers 1-2 Celtic, European Cup 2nd Rd

Match Pictures | Matches: 1971 – 1972 | 1971-1972 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic took a party of 21 to Malta and they were there by the Monday morning. The party included three keepers – Evan Williams, John Fallon and Gordon Marshall but Connaghan was ineligible and stayed in Glasgow. Dixie Deans also travelled but was suspended and unable to play. The players enjoyed the warm November weather. Jinky and Bobby Murdoch did not travel and remained in Glasgow for treatment to injuries.
• The team trained at the stadium on the Tuesday and then later visited the commando carrier HMS Bulwark which was in Valleta harbour.
  
• Celtic played in the Ta' Qali stadium which barely had any grass on it and was full of bumps.This was the ground that most teams on the island played on.
  
• Steve Hancock plays his only game for Celtic.This was also Tommy Gemmell's last ever game as a Celtic player.
• 20 year old Celt Kenny Dalglish is called up for Scotland for his first cap in the forthcoming game against Belgium in November.
• Game had a 2pm kick off. Spectators crammed into surrounding buildings to watch the game as the stadium had no roof.
• Celtic win 7-2 on aggregate.
• Maltese reports state that 84 Celtic fans had made the trip to Malta to watch their side play Sliema. TheCeltic party left Malta as soon as the match was over heading straight for Glasgow as Jock Stein had ordered due to the important league game with Aberdeen on Saturday.

Review

Sliema shocked Celtic by scoring in the opening minute but Celtic soon got the hang of the dry, hard, dusty conditions which were more akin to a red ash park in Glasgow. The wonderfully named Ronnie Cocks scored for Sliema. The Sliema fans lit up noisy fireworks with delight after the goal.

Celtic were obviously fitter but didn't look happy on the hard surface that made the ball bounce higher than usual. Dalglish and Connlly were impressive and Harry Hood equalised after Callaghan had headed on a Lennox cross.

In 48 minutes Williams rolled a bye kick to Connelly who turned and fired the ball just past his own post and a fuming Williams. Just afterwards young Stevie Hancock made his Celtic debut when he replaced Vic Davidson.

Despite a series of fine saves Pearson was eventually beaten by a fine Lennox header from a Hood cross.

After that Celtic slowed the game down by playing possession football and keeping the Sliema players at bay.

Teams

Sliema Wanderers:
Pearson, Borg, J Aquilana, Serge, Micallef, Briffa, Vassalo, Darmanin, Cocks, Falzon (Spiteri)E Aquilina (Caruana)
Scorer: Cocks (1)

Celtic:
Williams, Craig, Gemmell, Dalglish, McNeill, Connelly, Callaghan, Macari, Hood, Davidson (Hancock) Lennox. Substitutes: Marshall, Brogan, Hay, Cattanach
Scorers: Hood (42), Lennox (55)

Referee: A Komiaddes (Cyprus)