Celtic 4-2 Hamilton SPL Reserves

One of the youngest, and certainly one of the smallest, Celtic sides eased their way past Hamilton Accies tonight at Airdrie.

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Willie McStay's side were three goals up after an hour and although they lost two goals in the last ten minutes that won't distract too much away from the quality of their performance.

Only Paul McGowan and Ryan Conroy had any real experience whilst Koki Mizuno looked lively and inventive joining McGowan in attack.

With Cillian Sheridan and Ben Hutchison with the first team squad in Manchester it was a case of keeping the ball on the deck as the midfielders fed McGowan and Mizuno.

From left to right we had Mario Conti, Richie Towell, Mark Millar and Kevin Cawley across the centre of the park and it was from a 5th minute cross from Conti that Celtic took the lead with Trent McLenahan deflecting the shot past his own keeper who wasn't shy at letting McLenahan know what he thought of things.

The unfortunate Trent almost added a second own goal shortly afterwards before McGowan showed his class to put Celtic two in front.

Jason Marr's perfectly weighted pass tempted Hamilton 'keeper Sean Murdoch off his line but McGowan lifted the ball over the advancing keeper then volleyed home before the retreating defender had the chance to intercept.

It was a classy strike from Gowser who was a cut above the rest of the players on the park but finds himself in limbo in being too good for reserve team football but unlikely to get even a chance of first team football.

Just before the half hour mark, with no other options open the impressive Conti decided to try his luck at goal and found the net with a well struck 25 yard drive.

After the break Celtic tended to play one or two passes too many but that's forgiveable in young players keen to impress and all clearly comfortable on the ball.

Marr popped up in attack in the 65th minute to knock home the rebound from a McGowan shot.

McStay used the remainder of the game to give three substitutes a run out with Graham Carey making a welcome return to action after eight months out through injury.

Hamilton scored twice in the last ten minutes taking advantage of some slack defending but the result and performance again demonstrated the depth of talent that Celtic have at all age levels.

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TEAM: Fox, Marr (Gardner 71 min) Gaughan, Lafferty, Conroy, Cawley, Millar, Towell (Gallagher 85min), Conti (Carey 73min), Mizuno, McGowan