Youths throw away two points to Hamilton

Two goals in the last eight minutes from Hamilton Accies denied Celtic's youth side a winning return to league business.

Last weekend it was Stebie Frail's side that came from behind to win 5-4 away to Dundee United but slack defending allowed Hamilton to salvage a point from a game that was no showcase for youth football.

There was a frantic pace to the game from the first whistle with both side's testing the patience of the inexperienced young referee with Celtic's Filip Twardzik coming in for some especially rough treatment.

Frail made two changes to the side that started against Dundee United with Connor Frailey replacing Andy Kennedy in goals and supersub Sean Fitzharris starting in place of James Forrest. Fitzharris played on the left wing with James Keatings switched over to the right with Greig Spence alone through the centre.

Celtic forced a couple of early corners but there was no real pattern or purpose to their play with Hamilton competing strongly throughout the park

In the 18th minute Celtic went in front with a goal created and scored by Fitzharris. After beating his man to the bye-line his cross deep into the box was returned goalwards by Grant Gallagher, Keatings fired the ball goalwards with Fitzharris popping up to net from close range with the Hamilton defence claiming for offside.

Four minutes into the second half Spence was replaced by Bahrudin Atajic, a 16-year-old striker signed last month from Malmo in Sweden.

The points looked to be secured in the 67th minute when Darren McCauley netted his first goal after signing on loan from Derry City. McCauley's amateur status at Derry apparently entitles the club to compensation despite the financial problems that the club has had.

With a sizeable group of supporters, led by his elder sister Lorraine over from his boys club Top of the Hill Celtic, McCauley received a pass from Fitzharris 15 yards from goal and turned impressively before angling in a right footed shot beyond Accies keeper Gary Inglis.

McCauley is noticably bigger and stronger than most of his team-mates and became more involved as the game developed although he did look short on fitness which is understadable since he hasn't played regularly since October.

With ten minutes left Curtis Jones, who joined up alongside Josh Thompson and Michael Ordish from Stockport County, replaced McCauley with the points looking secure

Two minutes later Hamilton pulled a goal back when substitute Euan Lindsay took advantage of shoddy defending to net past Fairley from close range before Kevin Komer scored direct from a corner with two minutes left to play.

CELTIC: Fairley, G Gallagher, Hughes, D Gallagher, Lowden; McCauley, Towell, Twardzik; Keatings, Spence, Fitzharris

SUBS: Kennedy, P Twardzik, Marsden, Jones (McCauley 80min), Ordish, Atajic (Spence 49min), McGregor.