Youth/Development Team Thread

Johnstone looks the part!

Well done bhoys..

 

The Bhoys go up to lift the cup
https://mobile.twitter.com/CelticGoals/status/857332134415151104/video/1


celebrations at the end
https://mobile.twitter.com/CelticGoals/status/857332680740007936/video/1

 

Surely he's fed up of losing by now?

 

The Bhoys lifted the SFA Youth Cup without conceding a goal in the competition.

 

Calvin Miller simply did what even Pele couldn't do

 

Full game

 

class

 

CELTIC Under-20s turned on the style tonight at Hampden to brush aside Rangers 3-0 and lift SFA Youth Cup for the 15th time.

After a dominant first-half display, the young Hoops led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from captain Sam Wardrop and Calvin Miller.

The Bhoys continued to dominate after the restart and Aidan McIlduff added a third early in the second half.

Tommy McIntyre’s side had further chances to add to their tally, while Conor Hazard hardly had a save to make at the other end, as Celtic remained in complete control until the final whistle.

And then all was left was for skipper Wardrop to lift the silverware aloft as the trophy returned to Paradise for the sixth time in eight years, completing a memorable week for the Celtic Youth Academy following last Thursday’s Glasgow Cup triumph.

Fresh from scoring the winner in the Glasgow Cup final, Jack Aitchison came into the starting XI in the only change to the team that saw off Motherwell in the semi-final of the competition earlier this month, with PJ Crossan dropping to the bench.

The 17-year-old led the line for the Bhoys, with close support provided by a trident of Mikey Johnston, Aidan Nesbitt and Miller.

And Aitchison was quickly involved as the Bhoys sought to take the early initiative. Only three minutes were on the clock when the striker was felled by a reckless two-footed tackle from defender Aidan Wilson. Referee Ryan Oliver showed the Rangers youngster a yellow card but he was fortunate to escape further punishment.

In a repeat of the Glasgow Cup final, Celtic quickly took control, dominating possession and creating all the early openings.

Anthony Ralston lashed over from long-range, while Miller wasn’t far away from connecting with Nesbitt’s inviting low cross. Nesbitt, in the closing weeks of a season-long development loan at Morton, then volleyed Mark Hill’s delivery narrowly wide as the McIntyre’s side continued the offensive.

Bombing forward from right-back, Ralston almost caught goalkeeper Robby McCrorie out at his near post with a fizzing cross in the 11th minute, before Hill shot wide from distance.

Aside from Max Ashmore’s free-kick from an acute angle that flew well over, it was one-way traffic. But while McIntyre’s side were constructing some find passages of play, with Johnston, Nesbitt and Miller all prominent, they couldn’t break the deadlock.

And they almost paid the price but Wardrop was on hand to make a timely intervention after Serge Atakayi had cut the ball back from the byline on a rare Rangers breakaway.

Back came the Bhoys, though, and Johnston had a penalty shout waved away after he claimed he had been clipped by Ashmore in the box following a corner.

And seven minutes before the break, they opened the scoring. After Wardrop had headed Johnston’s cross back across goal, Johnston retrieved the loose ball near the byline. He fed Miller with a clever back-heel and when the winger’s cross was flicked on, it dropped for Wardrop at the back post. He took a touch before clinically finding the far corner.

On the stroke of half-time, Miller doubled the advantage. Conor Hazard’s long clearance was misjudged by Ross McCrorie and Miller dummied the ball past the onrushing Robby McCrorie, before stabbing home.

Graeme Murty’s side tried to up the tempo as the second half got underway but the first chance fell to the young Hoops as Miller drilled over after a flowing counter-attack, sparked by some nimble footwork from Nesbitt.

Goal number three soon arrived. Miller darted in from the left and fed a pass through for McIlduff, whose powerful shot was too hot to handle for Robby McCrorie, the keeper unable to keep the ball spinning into the net.

The young Celts were in complete command they continued to play with the same high intensity and attacking intent. Johnston tested McCrorie from Miller’s quick free-kick and the lively Nesbitt dragged a shot wide after some delightful skill saw dance past two players.

By this stage, Rangers had made all their substitutes but it had no impact on the flow of the game as Celtic came close to inflicting further punishment, with Thomson heading wide from McIlduff’s pinpoint cross and Miller and Johnston off target, before the celebrations began in earnest following the final whistle.

 

Aidan McIlduff





Sam Wardrop



Calvin, Sam and Aidan

 

Aiden Nesbitt looks good,maybe a better prospect than Liam Henderson if he bulks up a bit more.

 

Yaassss!!! Get in young 'uns!!!

 

This is how it feels to be celtic... great performance tonight win the youth cup against Rangers, no better feeling

https://mobile.twitter.com/Joshkerr5/status/857339277356781568


Well done Bhoys

https://mobile.twitter.com/MDembele_10/status/857330593352298497

Buzzing to beat rangers in the youth cup final & score! Bhoys were excellent
https://mobile.twitter.com/calvin_miller7/status/857339718131994624

What a feeling beating rangers in the final 3-0, never in doubt
https://mobile.twitter.com/mikeyjohnston10/status/857349368957083653

 

15 time Champions.

 

Delighted to have beat rangers in the youth cup final, what a feeling
https://mobile.twitter.com/anthonyralston8/status/857343650291961856


Clean Sweep what a feeling scoring in cup final
https://mobile.twitter.com/AMcilduff/status/857346650146299905

Great performance from boys tonight beating Rangers in the Youth Cup final!
https://mobile.twitter.com/samwardrop1997/status/857345789974257664

 

Yeah. Brilliant from the youth squad.
Makes it possible that Celtic could win 6 trophies this season.

Already won
Scottish Premier League
Scottish League Cup
Glasgow Cup
Scottish Youth Cup with possibility of
Scottish Cup
Scottish Development League

This last one though may be hard.
Ross county are 5 points clear with 1 game to go whilst Celtic have 2 games to go.
Ross County's match is against 4th placed Hamilton who also have a chance to win the league.

 

I'd like to see a couple of players get a run out v St Johnstone at Celtic Park. Johnston and Aitchison being the two main ones. Ralston as well.