| Match Pictures | Matches: 2004 – 2005 | 2004-2005 Pictures |
Trivia
- Rick Gillies Testimonial
Review
Teams
ST MIRREN (4-4-2)
Woods (Smith 76); Reid, Millen, McLaughlin, Broadfoot;Murray (Reilly 60), Lappin, Gillies (Baird 83), Ellis; Russell (McGinty 46), McGarry (O'Neill 27, Keane 72)
CELTIC (3-5-2)
Wood; Valgaeren, McManus, O'Dea (Cuthbert 88); McParland, Lawson (Gardyne 67), Lambert, Pearson (Irvine 56), Wallace (McGlinchey 56); Fernandez (Finnbogason 56), Maloney (Bjarnason 88)
Subs not used:- Fox
Referee:
Attendance:
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
A patchwork Celtic side lost out to St Mirren this evening in a testimonial match honouring Ricky Gillies' 12 years as a Buddy, but of far greater concern to all in the Hoops' camp was an injury to Ross Wallace which could end the youngster's season. Gillies himself will doubtless have been a little disappointed that Love Street was barely a third full for his big night, though Kenny McDowall did at least keep up his end of the bargain by bringing along a few big names for the occasion.
Joos Valgaeren, who inched closer to full fitness with a comfortable 90-minute run-out, was one, while David Fernandez and Stephen Pearson also joined some of the club's younger stars such as Wallace, Shaun Maloney and Stephen McManus in helping lend a touch of credibility to the contest.
Unfortunately, and while many of these players will unquestionably have benefited from the opportunity to top up their match fitness, Wallace's participation looks to have been at the cost of his availability for the foreseeable future, with the young winger's involvement curtailed by an ankle injury that, from his reaction, appeared serious.
The game itself, meanwhile, was of the forgettable and prosaic variety, with the irony that, prior to being stretchered from the field, Wallace – along with fellow winger, Tony McParland – had done most to enliven proceedings.
St Mirren, for what it's worth, probably just about merited their victory as it was they who carved out the best of the game's few chances.
Allan Russell missed the first of these, glancing wide a pinpoint Laurie Ellis cross in nine minutes and, midway through the half, John O'Neill spurned an even better opportunity, heading over from little more than three yards after being sought out by Simon Lappin's corner. The home side then went one closer as half-time approached when Russell's header crashed back off the post and Kirk Broadfoot, with the goal seemingly at his mercy, only
just failed to convert the rebound.
Celtic looked to have started the second period a little more brightly, however, and just minutes before pulling up in agony as he chased a hopeful ball into the left channel, Wallace stung the palms of Stevie Woods with a powerful low left-foot drive.
Nevertheless, it was difficult to begrudge the Buddies their winner when it came on 62 minutes, and it was certainly impossible to find fault in the finishing of Brian McGinty, who clinically took advantage of some slackness in Celtic's defensive ranks to blast the ball beyond the helpless Sandy Wood.
Thereafter, there was some encouragement for Kenny McDowall as his younger players emerged from the bench to dominate the game's closing stages, and they might even have claimed an equaliser when the impressive Michael McGlinchey crashed a left-foot shot against the underside of the crossbar from 25 yards.In the end, though, it was St Mirren who claimed the victory, Gillies who accepted the applause and Wallace who dominated the thoughts of all at Celtic.
ST MIRREN (4-4-2) Woods (Smith 76); Reid, Millen, McLaughlin, Broadfoot;Murray (Reilly 60), Lappin, Gillies (Baird 83), Ellis; Russell (McGinty 46), McGarry (O'Neill 27, Keane 72)
CELTIC (3-5-2) Wood; Valgaeren, McManus, O'Dea (Cuthbert 88); McParland, Lawson (Gardyne 67), Lambert, Pearson (Irvine 56), Wallace (McGlinchey 56); Fernandez (Finnbogason 56), Maloney (Bjarnason 88)
Subs not used:- Fox