match report and reaction

Clydesdale Bank Youth League | Celtic U20s 1 v 1 Aberdeen U20s

Bahrudin Atajic 43 mins; Alan O’Sullivan 84 mins

report by Andrew Southwick

A late goal from Alan O’Sullivan rescued a point for Aberdeen U20s away to Celtic.

The young striker raced onto a Nicky Low through ball to drill in an equaliser to give the Dons a deserved share of the spoils.

The hosts had led through a first half Bahrudin Atajic goal against the run of play as Celtic threatened to stretch their lead at the top.

However they couldn’t argue with Aberdeen going up the road with a point after a fighting show from the young Dons.

Both sides announced strong line-ups. Aberdeen gave starts to Josh Magennis and Peter Pawlett, while January signing Dan Twardzik started in goal, facing his brother Patrik Twardzik who lined up for Celtic alongside the dangerous Paddy McCourt.

It was the visitors who had the best of the early chances though. Stephen O’Neill lobbing a shot over the bar, followed a minute later by Declan McManus finding himself in the same position, who this time fed Pawlett who cut inside the defender but couldn’t put any power on his shot.

Nicky Low then tested Celtic’s Swedish international goalkeeper Viktor Noring with a free-kick that was heading for the top corner before being pushed away for a corner.

McCourt showed his class in the 16^th minute as he weaved his way through the Dons defence, jinking past five red shirts, but his eventual shot was easily blocked and cleared.

After a bright opening Aberdeen were being forced into their own half, but for all the hosts possession Twardzik was rarely threatened in goal, and in the 35^th minute Aberdeen should have been in front.

Good link-up play between Pawlett and Craig Murray opened the Celtic defence up, and Murray’s cross found McManus who headed into the path of the unmarked Jamie Masson who just had to knock the ball into the net, but the bounce of the ball deceived him and he blasted across goal and wide.

Peter Pawlett was coming more into the game and a vintage run saw him drift past three Celtic players, but a good challenge denied him just as he was about to pull the trigger.

O’Neill then sent in a cross come shot that almost sneaked in at the back post.

The Dons were on top, but much like the cup game last week they found themselves behind against the run of play. McCourt nipped past his marker on the left, and his low cross caused havoc in the penalty box. Aberdeen just couldn’t get it clear and Atajic finished low into the far corner.

Neil Cooper’s men knew they had to score first in the second half, and if Pawlett was an inch higher they may have grabbed that goal after five minutes. Magennis and McManus both were able to get their heads to the ball and direct it across goal for Pawlett who stretched as high as he could but it teasingly evaded him.

Twardzik then had to save from McCourt who had went on another mazy run and fired a low ball through the middle, before Pawlett cleared off the line from a Eoghan O’Connell header as Celtic looked for a second.

The action was racing from end to end now. Murray sent a low ball into the six yard box that McManus got a foot to couldn’t direct it past Noring, then Patrik Twardzik curled a dangerous shot at his brother that went just wide.

McCourt’s dangerous runs were causing problems and again he drove forward, eventually finding substitute Lewis Kidd and Twardzik had to get down low to save.

Aberdeen were upping the pace and Nicky Low twice burst into the box past a glut of defenders but couldn’t test Noring as much as he would have liked. The game remained on a knife edge with the next goal vital, and John Herron volleyed wide for Celtic as they continued to be a threat.

Aberdeen made their only change of the game; Jamie Masson being replaced by Alan O’Sullivan, and it proved to be an inspired change as the Dons levelled in the 83^rd minute.

The Dons burst forward in numbers on the counter attack, and Low sent a through ball for O’Sullivan who had timed his run well. The striker drilled an inch perfect shot into the far corner for an equaliser the Dons more than deserved.

There was no let up from the visitors though as they went on the hunt for all three points. Pawlett burst through into the box but couldn’t get enough on his lob to test Noring.

Celtic cruelly could have snatched it at the end though. A succession of corners kept the Dons defence busy, then the impressive Dan Twardzik pushed over from Keatings.

It was Patrik Twardzik who almost grabbed the family bragging rights though in time added on, but his header crashed off the bar.

A draw was probably a fair result in the end, though it leaves the Dons trailing Celtic by 13 points, albeit with two games in hand.

Celtic: Noring, Fisher, O’Connell, Gershon, Chalmers, P.Twardzik, Herron, Irvine, Keatings, McCourt, Atajic.

Subs: Fasan, Lindsay, Kidd, Johnstone, Horareau, McNally.

Aberdeen: D.Twardzik, Murray, Duguid, Gibbons, Magennis, Rumsby, Pawlett, O’Neill, McManus, Masson, Low.

Subs: Rogers, O’Sullivan, Close, Hamilton, Szemis, Campanile.

RedTV | highlights to follow

After the game Neil Cooper spoke to RedWeb “The game was very similar to the recent cup tie against Celtic. The pitch was again dry but we passed the ball about well. Celtic did not have a lot of chances and Dan did not have a lot of saves to make apart from one late on. I thought for the most part we were the better team and I thought we probably deserved to win the game.

“We again lost a poor goal against the run of play. Paddy McCourt played a good one two to take him into the box but we stood off him and did not put a challenge in and Atajic was able to score.

“If you stand off good players in the box you will get punished and we did.

“We had some chances in the first half and Jamie Masson has missed a good opportunity.

“Credit to the boys as their heads never went down, they kept playing football and kept competing. In the second half we kept pushing and showed good application and got a deserved goal. Nicky Low did really well in his own half to win the ball and he has played a good diagonal ball to Alan O’Sullivan who we had just put on as a sub. Alan showed good technique to hook the ball into the far corner.

“I am pleased for Alan. He has done well this year but obviously he is still a bit behind Cammy and Declan as he is younger and only come in full time this year. He has still things to learn in terms of game awareness but his attitude is first class and he is a good striker – he is a good finisher as he showed today and he has some good strength and pace.

“There were a lot of good performances again today as there have been all season. There were no poor performances for any of the boys.”

The Winning Numbers For Tuesday 5th March