Battling Bhoys claim first victory of the season SPFL Development League Cappielow, Greenock Tuesday, Septmber 9, 2014 CELTIC...2 Tierney 43, McMullan 64 DUNDEE...1 Wighton75 GOALS in either half from Kieran Tierney and Paul McMullan saw Celtic’s Development Side seal their first three points of the season after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Dundee at Cappielow. Tierney struck as half-time approached, turning in McMullan’s chip through a ruck of players, before McMullan gave the Bhoys breathing space in the 64th minute, converting from the spot after he had been felled in the box by Iain Davidson. Craig Wighton pulled a goal back for the visitors to set up at tense finish, but Stevie Frail’s young guns showed admirable resolve to hold firm and get their league campaign up and running after starting it with successive draws. With a number of established players absent on international duty, the home team took on a more youthful composition. A host of 17-year-old players featured from the start, including Aidan McIlduff, Jamie McCart, Jack Breslin, Kieran Tierney and Joe Thomson, while 16-year-old Calvin Miller was deployed on the right wing. After a frenetic opening to proceedings, the first meaningful attack was constructed by the Bhoys in the eighth minute. Thomson flicked a long ball on for Tierney and the winger’s low cross had no takers. After Calvin Colquhoun had a shot blocked for the visitors by captain Marcus Fraser, Tierney threatened again down the left, bursting beyond the clutches of Andrew Black and crossing for Paul McMullan, who fired over on the stretch. Thomson then weaved his way through the middle to cause some panic in the Dundee defence. Eventually, Tierney teed-up Breslin, whose effort was deflected to safety. Leo Fasan was called into action for the first time just before the midway point of the half as full-back Cameron Kerr tried his luck from distance. But the Italian shot-stopper, who signed a new deal with the club last month, was right behind the drive. Former Scotland internationalist, David Clarkson, one of several experienced faces to line up for the Dens Park side, shot over from 20 yards, before Miller saw a header saved by Bain as the game continued to swing from end to end. McMullan’s pace and movement continued to pose a threat, and after another penetrative burst into the box, he lofted a cross towards the far post. It dropped for Fraser but the defender was unable to keep the half volley down. As the game remained in the balance, Wighton spurned a good chance for the Dees, dragging a shot wide after Martin Boyle had picked him out from the byline. That proved a costly miss as the Bhoys made the breakthrough three minutes before the break. McMullan made progress into the area and his dinked ball across goal was bundled in by Tierney. Colquhoun’s instant reply for the visitors fizzed wide, but they continued to hunt for the equaliser after the interval, applying some heavy pressure on the hosts. The speedy Boyle was becoming a more prominent presence, cutting in from the right, and he volleyed wide after Wighton had danced away from two players and picked him out. The young Hoops then had a lucky escape when Boyle’s dipping shot crashed a shot off the inside of the post and bounced to safety. Matty Allan headed wide and Clarkson had a shot blocked by Waters as the visitors maintained the momentum. But a swift breakaway saw Frail’s side double their advantage. McMullan’s acceleration took him beyond Iain Davidson, who sent him tumbling to the ground as he bore down on goal. The referee pointed to the spot and McMullan picked himself up before confidently stroking the ball into the corner. That setback took the wind out of Dundee’s sails for a short period but they began to regain the ascendancy as the game entered its closing stages. And just minutes after Wighton has drilled wide from Boyle’s pass, the forward reduced the deficit, heading into the far corner from Dylan Carriero’s cross. After that, the Dens Park outfit piled forward in search of a late leveller, but the young Celts were determined to prevail and withstood some intense pressure to claim the spoils. CELTIC (4-3-3) Fasan; Waters, Fraser, McCart (Kelleher 87), McIlduff; Thomson, Breslin, Lindsay; Miller (Ralston 84), McMullan, Tierney (Hendry 69) Not Used: Hart, Higgins, Currie
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:25:24 +0000
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