U19s v Celtic
Saturday, 20th Aug 2011A young Dunfermline team put up a spirited performance at Lennoxtown with Celtic not assured of the three points until their second goal five minutes from time.
CELTIC 2 DUNFERMLINE 0
A young Dunfermline team put up a spirited performance at Lennoxtown on Sunday lunchtime with Celtic not assured of the three points until their second goal five minutes from time.Celtic started the match strongly and enjoyed the bulk of the possession. Their first chance came after quarter of an hour when John Herron rattled Ryan Goodfellow`s left hand post. The visitors had their first real attempt from a free kick but Kerr Young drove that wide left.
Ross Drummond`s pace then won a free kick on the left not far out from the corner flag but Ross Millen overstruck the cross. The game had become more open towards the break, Allan Smith got through to test the keeper but it was predominantly Celtic back pushing for the opener. Paul George impressed and his cross from the left was headed wide by Atajic. Then a Williams cross set up George with the best chance so far but the Celtic no.10 sent the ball wide right.
Half Time: Celtic 0 Dunfermline 0
The Pars had the first opportunity of the second half after a strong run by Smith earned a free kick. The initial ball in was cleared but when Ross Millen returned it Scott Campbell was lingering on the far side of the box to send the ball on target but Thomson held.
Celtic made their opponents live dangerously in 51 minutes with George buzzing around the box and Goodfellow pulling off another good save. Then Blair Henderson found himself in position to launch a wicked, dipping shot on target but Thomson pulled off a fantastic save punching the ball over for a corner from under his bar. His father Scott, himself a professional goalkeeper with Dunfermline, watched on with pride. It was to be a crucial save as Celtic were soon to go on to score the all important first goal.
Liam Gormley had only just replaced Rhys Williams when he forced his way up the right to send in a cross that ATAJIC forced home from close in with just under an hour on the clock. Drummond made ground down the left in an attempt to respond immediately and although he got in a cross for Henderson in front of goal, his timing was not perfect and he couldn`t convert.
Goodfellow continued to keep Celtic out with a fine 77th minute save from Atajic. Sub Calum McGregor shot over the bar for Celtic and Jackson Irvine went close with a drive that slipped wide left. With just six minutes remaining the Pars pushed up looking for a late equaliser. They forced a corner but got caught on the counterattack.
John HERRON produced a great solo run brushing off the challenges of defenders to strike Celtic`s second past Goodfellow. It was a shame for Dunfermline to lose a late goal since they had played really well especially in defence.
Coach Hamish French acknowledged that his side were a young side but they need to find more quality in their passing. "We created a couple of chances, we worked hard enough but we need to work on moving the ball quicker like Celtic did against us."
SUBS NOT USED: Darnell Fisher, Joe O`Brien, Denny Johnstone, Mohammad Yaqub, Leonardo Fasan (GK)
SCORERS: Atajic (59), Herron (85)
DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Goodfellow; Jordan Brown, Kerr Young, Scott Campbell, Grant Munro; Scott Mercer, Ross Millen (Andy Ritchie 71), Sean Byrne, Ross Drummond (Jack Bruce 66); Blair Henderson (Scott McIntosh 78), Allan Smith
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie Birnie, Trialist, Steven Mayne (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Byrne (62)
REFEREE:
WEATHER: Sunny 19°C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: (home) SPL U19 League v Inverness Caley Thistle
Friday 26th August, 1:00pm at Stirling University
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