retired_amyslack

Terk - I am amazed just how effective SuperMac is. He was a lucky find.

Scotland On Sunday
December 22nd, 2002
Super Celts Unstoppable

Celtic underlined their domestic superiority yesterday by powering to a 4-0 win over visiting Dundee United. Gary McCutcheon, Gary Teale, Michael Stewart and Charlie Miller all found the net as Celtic overran the visitors. 21-year-old Stewart is proving an able deputy for the injured Paul Lambert and is keeping John Collins on the bench. McCutcheon now had 23 goals for the season as he continues to head the SPL scoring charts.

retired_amyslack

The Glasgow Herald
December 27th, 2002
Christmas Cheer For Dons

In the Boxing Day match at Pittodrie Aberdeen achieved a feat that few other teams have this season – they didn’t lose to Celtic. Mark Kerr put the visitors ahead after just 4 minutes but Aberdeen equalised with a breakaway against the run of play on the half hour when Jerome Vareille scored his first goal for the club. Aberdeen did very well to hold out against intense Celtic pressure as the visitors went all out for the victory. Celtic certainly deserved to win as they hit the woodwork twice and Gary McCutcheon had a goal chalked off for offside. But Aberdeen somehow held on to take a valuable point and allow Rangers to close the gap at the top.

retired_amyslack

The Glasgow Herald
January 1st, 2003
No New Year Cheer For The Buddies

Bottom club St. Mirren came away from Celtic Park pointless but not disgraced. The league leaders fashioned a 2-0 win that was efficient if not overly exciting. Jackie McNamara and Jamie Smith both found the net in the first 20 minutes but the St. Mirren defence held firm thereafter. The visitors were rarely able to get too far out of their own half as Celtic dictated the play but some over-elaborate play in front of goal meant that the home side failed to capitalise on their superiority.

retired_amyslack

The Glasgow Herald
January 7th, 2003
Cameron On His Way To Celtic Park

Wolves and Scotland midfielder Colin Cameron will be joining Celtic when his current contract expires in the summer. He will join a veritable “who’s who” of Scottish football as Tick Jones continues to try to corner the market in Scottish playing talent as a consequence of the club’s “buy Scottish” policy.


The Glasgow Herald
January 9th, 2003
More Changes At Parkhead

Veteran defender Colin Hendry was released on a free transfer by Celtic yesterday. The 36-year-old was signed last season on a two-year contract but he has increasingly become a peripheral figure amongst the Celtic playing staff. At the same time it was revealed that Motherwell youngster Stephen Pearson will be moving to Celtic Park in the summer at the end of his current contract. Celtic will have to pay compensation of some £625K for the 20-year-old.

[This message was edited by Peacemaker7 on 21 February 2004 at 0:46.]

retired_amyslack

Scotland On Sunday
January 19th, 2003
Provett Hero For Hibs

Hibs keeper Jim Provett was the hero of the day as a string of brilliant saves kept his team alive against Celtic at Easter Road yesterday. David Weir was the only Celtic player to break his resistance when he headed home a Charlie Miller free kick in the second half. Apart from that Provett was in unbeatable form. His team gained their reward when Martin Rowlands scored an equaliser deep into stoppage time to give the home side a point that they barely deserved. But as we all know, sometimes there is no justice in football and now Celtic find themselves overtaken by Rangers at the top of the table. To make matters worse, Jackie McNamara suffered a broken toe and will be out for 3 weeks.

retired_amyslack

Scotland On Sunday
January 26th, 2003
Parker Double Saves Celts

Celtic’s run of bad luck continued during the week as influential captain Paul Lambert and striker Paul Shields both suffered injuries in training. Shields is the more serious, a calf tear that will sideline him for 3 months. Their ill-fortune looked set to continue at Celtic Park yesterday as Gary Teale joined the injury list and Dunfermline not only withstood an attacking onslaught but actually took the lead through Mark McCormick with 20 minutes remaining. But Celtic recovered the situation, removing Michael Stewart and throwing on Kevin Gallacher as an extra attacker. Two goals from Kiegan Parker, the second in stoppage time, gave them a 2-1 win and three well deserved points.

retired_amyslack

Scotland On Sunday
February 2nd, 2003
Celtic Savour The Joy Of Six

Celtic striker Gary McCutcheon had a field day in their Scottish Cup 3rd round tie at St. Johnstone, scoring 4 times in a 6-1 victory. Mark Kerr and Don Hutchison provided the other two as the Celts went on a goal spree. Celtic had another injury problem in the days leading up to the game as Kiegan Parker picked up a knock that meant he would miss the game. They shrugged this disappointment aside however as they showed no mercy to a hard working St. Johnstone side. Scott Young’s goal in the first half gave the home side some brief encouragement as he brought the score back to 2-1 but that proved to be short-lived indeed.

retired_amyslack

The Glasgow Herald
February 6th, 2003
Celtic Back On Top

A 2-0 win for Celtic at Motherwell combined with a shock 2-0 loss by Rangers to St. Mirren at Ibrox means that the Celts go back to the top of the table whilst St. Mirren are replaced at the bottom by Motherwell. Goals by Don Hutchison and Alan Johnston capped off a competent if unexciting Celtic performance. Meanwhile at Ibrox, “new manager syndrome” came into play. Gordon Strachan saw his new charges take full advantage of superior number to take the points as Rangers had Steven Thompson and Ronald De Boer dismissed inside the first 25 minutes.

retired_amyslack

Scotland On Sunday
February 9th, 2003
Old Firm End All Square

An enthralling Old Firm encounter at Celtic Park ended in a 2-2 draw as the advantage swung one way and then the other. Celtic opened the scoring after 20 minutes when a free kick from Charlie Miller was deflected into his own net by Michael Ball. But in the second half Rangers turned the game around as first Bert Konterman and then Michael Mols scored to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. To Celtic’s mounting frustration, both Gary McCutcheon and Mark Kerr had goal efforts disallowed because of offside decisions. But with 15 minutes remaining a refereeing decision finally went their way when Kevin Nolan was adjudged to have barged Miller in the area. Mark Kerr was the calmest man in Parkhead as he neatly despatched the spot kick. The draw keeps Celtic 2 points ahead in the title race.

retired_amyslack

The Glasgow Herald
February 20th, 2003
Celtic Win Hampden Classic

A near-50,000 crowd at a rain-lashed Hampden Park witnessed a thrilling League Cup Semi Final between Celtic and Kilmarnock with the Celts eventually triumphing 3-2. Kilmarnock got off to a great start as Jesus Garcia Sanjuan gave them the lead after 12 minutes. A further 12 minutes passed before Gary McCutcheon struck to provide an equaliser. But in the 38th minute Gary McSwegan put Kilmarnock back in front as the crowd were treated to some end-to-end stuff. The lead lasted barely a minute before Mark Kerr squared the game again and the first half ended with a 2-2 scoreline. Both teams showed great attacking endeavour in the second period but Celtic finally prevailed as Kerr scored his second of the match with 10 minutes remaining. Celtic will play Dundee United in the final as they beat neighbours Dundee 2-1 in their encounter at Easter Road. United survived the dismissal of teenage keeper Ian Ward after 40 minutes as the youngster tangled with Dundee striker Steven Milne following what Ward felt was an excessive “in yer face” goal celebration as Milne opened the scoring. Substitute keeper Alan Combe played superbly to keep his sides hopes alive and Jim Paterson became the United hero when he scored twice to give them the win, the second strike coming in stoppage time.