One of the youngest, and certainly one of the smallest, Celtic sides eased their way past Hamilton Accies tonight at Airdrie.
VIDEO REPORT
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.
VIDEO REPORT
TEAM: Fox, Marr (Gardner 71 min) Gaughan, Lafferty, Conroy, Cawley, Millar, Towell (Gallagher 85min), Conti (Carey 73min), Mizuno, McGowan
Monday, 20 October 2008
Oh Hampden in the sun... 7-1!!!
Fifty one years ago the Celtic-Rangers derby match produced an incredible scoreline as the teams served up an eight goal thriller in the League Cup Final.
VIDEO OF THE GOALS (well 7 of them anyway)
Thankfully Celtic banged in seven of them with Billy McPhail leading the way with a hat-trick.
The Celtic team contains some great names, Charlie Tully, Bobby Evans, Bertie Peacock, Sean Fallon and Neilly Mochan are all still fondly remembered by older supporters but amazingly it was to be the last Celtic trophy win for all of them.
The celebrations must have been special but it was to be a long eight years before Celtic lifted another trophy which perhaps adds to the charm and mystique of the 7-1 match... not to mention the BBC 'losing' footage of the match before it resurfaced about 30 years later!
Bertie Auld had played for Celtic in both legs of the quarter-final win over Third Lanark as well as the semi final win over Clyde but wasn't selected for the final.
Bertie's story is great enough, signed three times by Celtic, a Fairs Cup Final appearance for Birmingham but nothing would have topped playing in Lisbon and also the 7-1 game... although Bertie is hardly short on talking points.
Enjoy the GOALS
VIDEO OF THE GOALS (well 7 of them anyway)
Thankfully Celtic banged in seven of them with Billy McPhail leading the way with a hat-trick.
The Celtic team contains some great names, Charlie Tully, Bobby Evans, Bertie Peacock, Sean Fallon and Neilly Mochan are all still fondly remembered by older supporters but amazingly it was to be the last Celtic trophy win for all of them.
The celebrations must have been special but it was to be a long eight years before Celtic lifted another trophy which perhaps adds to the charm and mystique of the 7-1 match... not to mention the BBC 'losing' footage of the match before it resurfaced about 30 years later!
Bertie Auld had played for Celtic in both legs of the quarter-final win over Third Lanark as well as the semi final win over Clyde but wasn't selected for the final.
Bertie's story is great enough, signed three times by Celtic, a Fairs Cup Final appearance for Birmingham but nothing would have topped playing in Lisbon and also the 7-1 game... although Bertie is hardly short on talking points.
Enjoy the GOALS
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
How unlucky is Simon Ferry
The unluckiest player at Celtic or is that his mate Charlie Grant?
VIDEO REPORT
Simon has barely played a game in the last two years but was in the reserve side that started against Aberdeen last night.
Typical of his luck he was sent off after 25 minutes from a dubious decision from the referee with a 'last man' call as it's known but in reality it's preventing a goal scoring opportunity.
Not only did he miss out on last night's match but he's suspended for the reserves next game, at home to Hamilton Accies on Monday October 20!
I suppose on the bright side it'll only be a one match ban since he hasn't had the chance to build up a longer ban since he's missed so much football over the last two season's.
Ferry can be a great player, a box to box midfielder that knows how to tackle, how to pass and to break beyond the strikers to find the net.
He was the youngest player on the park, and man-of-the-match, when Celtic won the 2005 SFA Youth Cup Final against St Mirren thanks to two goals from Jim O'Brien and was at his best the following year as Celtic retained the trophy beating Hearts 3-1.
With a four year contract signed the future looked assured before ankle problems kicked in denying him the chance to move up.
Hopefully this suspension will be his last hurdle towards recovery and we'll soon get the chance to see him develop from youth team player into first teamer, he's up there with Liam Miller and Aiden McGeady in terms of ability shown at youth team level.
VIDEO MESSAGE
Monday, 6 October 2008
Crosas leads Celtic squad to Derry
New bhoy Marc Crosas will lead a strong looking Celtic XI into Tuesday night's friendly with Derry City.
The former Barcelona midfielder is included in the Celtic squad as well as Glenn Loovens, Massimo Donati and Paul Caddis who've all played first team football this season.
Adding an Irish dimension to the squad is Darren O'Dea and Cillian Sheridan while Pat McCourt makes a return to the Brandywell after his summer transfer.
After the match O'Dea will travel to Dublin to meet up with international manager Giovanni Trapattoni for Thursday's night's challenge match in Dublin against Notts Forest in a match arranged to give the Italian a look at the players on the fringes of his international squad.
Tuesday's match is to celebrate Derry's 80th anniversary and it's certainly been a colourful history with the club leaving the Belfast based Irish league in the early 70s before making a spectacular return to football with the League of Ireland in the mid 80s.
Crossas made another telling contribution in the 4-0 win over Hamilton Accies that took Celtic to the top of the league ahead of Rangers defeat at St Mirren.
The young Spaniard has missed out on both Champions League games this season but could well be in the team that faces Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 21.
VIDEO REPORT on the weekend action.
MATCH REPORT on the Hamilton Accies game
The former Barcelona midfielder is included in the Celtic squad as well as Glenn Loovens, Massimo Donati and Paul Caddis who've all played first team football this season.
Adding an Irish dimension to the squad is Darren O'Dea and Cillian Sheridan while Pat McCourt makes a return to the Brandywell after his summer transfer.
After the match O'Dea will travel to Dublin to meet up with international manager Giovanni Trapattoni for Thursday's night's challenge match in Dublin against Notts Forest in a match arranged to give the Italian a look at the players on the fringes of his international squad.
Tuesday's match is to celebrate Derry's 80th anniversary and it's certainly been a colourful history with the club leaving the Belfast based Irish league in the early 70s before making a spectacular return to football with the League of Ireland in the mid 80s.
Crossas made another telling contribution in the 4-0 win over Hamilton Accies that took Celtic to the top of the league ahead of Rangers defeat at St Mirren.
The young Spaniard has missed out on both Champions League games this season but could well be in the team that faces Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 21.
VIDEO REPORT on the weekend action.
MATCH REPORT on the Hamilton Accies game
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