Celtic Reserves 3 Dunfermline Reserves 0

ALAN THOMPSON ran the show as a strong Celtic Reserves cruised to a 3-0 win over a young and outclassed Dunfermline side. An omen for Saturday, perhaps?
Certainly it appeared as if several players currently on the fringes of the Hoops first team were keen to stake claims for starting roles in Gordon Strachan's ever-improving outfit. Principal among these was the aforementioned Thommo, who parked himself in the middle of midfield and dictated possession for the 80 minutes he stayed on the park.
The Englishman must have made a good impression on the manager, who watched the game from behind a glass screen with his sidekick Gary Pendrey, who would both have been a good deal warmer than the few dozen spectators who shivered on the Airdrie stadium's icy plastic seats.
The biting cold and lack of atmosphere meant players had to work hard to provide their personal motivation, but some tried harder than others.
Celtic simply dazzled down the left, where the tireless Ross Wallace repeatedly hurtled forward from left back, showing boundless energy and bags of skill. He also displayed some admirable defensive positioning at the back post on the few occasions that Dunfermline actually managed to get forward.
Wee "Rosco" linked extremely well with Stephen Pearson, who was wide left of midfield. The pair of them weaved all sorts of intricate patterns with their passing and moving, leaving the opposing defenders in a constant daze.
Indeed, Wallace, Pearson and Thompson were such a magnet for the ball that the right-sided players, Gary Irvine and Didier Agathe, rarely got a look-in.
Perahps the interplay was overdone, though, as by the time a crossing opportunity had been created the strikers Rocco Quinn and Michael Gardyne were usually being tightly marked.
With Thompson sitting deep in the centre, Paul Lawson took the chance to get forward more and ping in a few shots. Some of his passing was a joy.
In the centre of defence, Adam Virgo was powerful, commanding and very vocal - always a plus point for a centre-half. Beside him, Charlie Mulgrew had a tough task in the air against the beanpole Pole Bartocz Tarachulski but looked comfortable on the deck.
David Marshall got little chance to impress. He dropped one simple cross, then made a fine double save. And that was that.
Celtic went ahead after just four minutes. Thompson fed Wallace who, on the byline, turned the right back Jamie McCunnie inside out - a la Nakamura - before putting in a good cross that was cleared to Thommo on the edge of the box.
His fierce volley was parried by the keeper Greg Paterson and Gardyne was on hand to knock home the rebound.
Celtic made chance after chance, with the Pars barely getting a touch of the ball. Wallace burst through to crack a fierce shot off the bar, then Pearson had a shot blocked after a powerful run.
The second goal, after 24 minutes, followed a great passing move between Pearson and Thompson which ended with the tall youngster steering a cute right-foot curler into the far corner.
Michael McGlinchey came on at half-time for Quinn, who had tweaked a hamstring, with the youngster going to right midfield and Agathe going to striker.
The chances continued to come, with Virgo, Pearson and Gardyne all coming close in the early stages of the second half.
McGlinchey then missed a chance after a mazy run before Pearson squandered a sitter.
With 10 minutes to go, coach Kenny McDowall took off Thompson and Gardyne, replacing them with the Under-19 stars Teddy Bjarnason and Simon Ferry.
There was still time for Agathe to complete the scoring in the last minute following fine build-up play by Lawson.

PLAYER RATINGS:

David Marshall: It was 32 minutes before Dunfermline managed to trouble him... and he promptly dropped a harmless cross. Perhaps he can blame hypothermia. Marsh then made a fine double save but had little to do in the second half.
Gary Irvine: Tidy young right back did little wrong and charged forward at every opportunity. Just back from injury. Shows good composure on the ball but looks a bit on the slight side. To the gym, young man!
Ross Wallace: Excellent. And I mean "Excellent!" Absolutely tireless with his forays up the park and chasing back, wee Rosco kept the ball well, always showed for a pass, has great pace and fired in a stream of tempting crosses. His link-up play with Pearson was superb. Some time soon he will get his chance in the first team - and Mo Camara will find it very hard to get back in after that. He can do everything Mo can do - but he can do it a lot better. The new Ashley Cole? Watch this space!
Adam Virgo: With Du Wei out injured, the BIG English lad played on the right-hand side of the central defensive pairing and is obviously being groomed to stand in for Bobo Balde when the big man heads off to Africa in January. Very like big Bobo in that you wouldn't like to get in his way when he gets up a head of steam. Thundered into some meaty sliding tackles and looked good in the air. His passing was also miles better. He can ping the long passes with the best of them and also appears to be a good, and very vocal, organiser. Not up against much, but he is now starting to look the part. However, can we please get him a bigger jersey and pair of shorts! No, he's not fat, but he is one bulky Bhoy!
Charlie Mulgrew: I didn't realise Charlie was THIS tall! The former Under-19s left back looks like he has taken a stretch and lost a lot of "puppy fat". So much so that he now looks a bit on the skinny side. Hopefully he can get enlisted for the Stephen McManus Weightlifting School. Very comfortable on the deck but muscled off the ball near the end of the first half and also beaten in the air a few times. Methinks he also needs a few lessons from the Centre-Halfs' Academy of Dirty Tricks. He has got the height and skill to be a central defender but now needs a bit more bulk and street-wise "nouse". Could be challenging "Big Mick" for a place by the start of next season.
Didier Agathe: Distinctly unimpressive and lacklustre, I got the impression he was merely going through the motions. Played wide right of midfield in the first half. Rarely beat a man, and his crossing and passing was sloppy. Switched to centre forward in the second half, where he didn't convince, although he scored in the last minute. We know, and Didier knows, he can give so much more. And he won't be starting many first team games until he does.
Paul Lawson: Along with Thompson, Paul completely dominated the centre of midfield against two young opponents. Thommo sat that bit deeper, while Paul got forward more, though not quite as effectively as Stilian Petrov does. Hit a good first-half shot and struck some wonderful long-range passes. Very neat and tidy, seldom gives the ball away, but I'd like to see a bit more aggression and self-assertion in his play. Seems content to be a bit-part player when, to grab the first team manager's attention, he has to be a STAR at this level. Get angry, Paul!
Alan Thompson: It will probably not surprise his critics one jot that Thommo picked up a completely unnecessary booking for dissent in the first half. But that angry comment to a linesman about a foul not awarded for a clear push on Virgo at least illustrated the Geordie's commitment to a lifeless encounter. He must have touched the ball at least twice as much as any other player on the park. Pinged some lovely passes left and right, fired in some impressive shots and cajoled his young teammates throughout. Thommo looked completely at home in the centre of midfield, where he may find he is competing with Neil Lennon and Petrov for a starting slot. Now looks a bit lacking in pace for the left midfield slot. But I'm sure Strachan will have been impressed with his performance and attitude here.
Stephen Pearson: Dazzled on the left wing, where he showed a great understanding with Wallace. Pearo took the ball inside, then fed young Rosco on the overlap. Or came in to swap passes with Quinn in the box or Thommo on the edge. And his goal was a beauty, curling it in with his right foot. The big man looks very fit and very confident. If McGeady is pushed into the forward line this weekend, don't be surprised to see Pearo taking his slot on the left flank.
Rocco Quinn: Big 19-year-old centre-forward held the ball up well but didn't get much chance to shine. Most of Celtic's play was on the flanks and he rarely got close to the crosses that came in. Converted from a midfielder and looks like he's still trying to learn the striker's trade. Appeared to tweak a hamstring near the end of the first half and was substituted at the break, so no chance of him being a solution to this weekend's striker crisis.
Michael Gardyne: Nicknamed Midge because he's about the size of one. Skillful lad, but really needs to develop blinding pace and a very powerful upper body to cope at the top level with much bigger defenders. Showed a good poacher's instinct to bundle home the first goal. Needs to work hard on the training ground and in the gym if he's to stake a claim for a permament place in the first team squad.
Michael McGlinchey: This 18-year-old lad was promoted from the Under-19s squad to the Reserves last season, which shows how highly he's rated. Played on the right of midfield after coming on at half-time but later on had a wee spell up front. Very skillful player in the McGeady mould who goes past defenders with ease and has great positional sense. I feel he still has a bit of growing to do and could definitely do with a bit of bulking up. Look for him grabbing a seat on the first team bench before the end of the season.
Simon Ferry and Teddy Bjarnason: The two Under-19 midfielders came on for the last 10 minutes and showed their usual skill, composure and guile, although the game was long dead by then. They will both be making many more appearances for the Reserves as the season progresses and could be set to challenge for places in the first team squad by the beginning of next season. As I've stated several times in recent weeks, both could more than hold their own.

Youth Cup: Celtic 3 Queen of the South 0

DESPITE a flying start, Celtic's Under-19 squad failed to hit the heights for most of this Youth Cup tie and were grateful for two late strikes from Paul McGowan that finally saw off the brave challenge of their visitors Queen of the South.
The lads from Dumfries, who were backed by a sizeable and noisy following, were obviously thrilled to have the opportunity to turn out at Celtic Park and battled bravely throughout.
They were a well organised outfit, with some towering forwards and defenders, although their most accomplished player was a small lad in the centre of midfield called Jack Steel, who looked no more than 16.
However, there can be little doubt that the best team made it through to the next round of the competition, as Celtic enjoyed almost all the possession and pinned the Queens back for long spells, with the visitors sitting for much of the time with 10 men behind the ball.
As such, there was little space for Celtic's forwards to play in until late on when the Queens appeared to tire - no suprise, perhaps, as they had played a league match just 24 hours earlier.
Yet for the first 10 minutes it appeared that a rout could be on the cards.
In Celtic's first attack, McGowan was fouled on the edge of the box, and from the resultant free-kick Ryan Conroy curled a powerful left-footed strike into the top corner.
With Paul Caddis marauding forward from right back, it seemed a second goal would follow soon after. A neat passing move saw the defender race to the byline and cut the ball across the face of goal, but there were no takers.
But after 25 minutes Queens ventured forward and gave the Celtic defence two major scares in as many minutes. For the first, the giant Queens centre-forward burst into the box and put the ball past Celts' centre-half Andy Traub, who lunged forward but did not appear to make any contact. But the striker went down and was very aggrieved when the referee didn't point to the spot for a penalty.
Just over a minute later, the same striker burst past the hesitant Traub but was held up by his fellow central defender Scott Cuthbert. Keeper Scott Fox came off his line, anticipating a shot, but Traub came back and slid in to tackle. His block rebounded off Cuthbert and hurtled towards goal.
Fortunately, Fox pulled off a magnificent reflex stop to parry the ball to safety.
In effect, that was Queen of the South's last serious effort on goal. But they continued to frustrate the cup holders.
Central midfielders Simon Ferry and captain Charlie Grant monopolised possession and continually switched play from left to right as they probed for openings. Caddis was the main outlet on the right, allowing wide midfielder Gary Walsh to tuck inside.
On the other flank,Conroy showed good trickery, supported at all times by left back Dean Richardson. But strikers Jim O'Brien and Paul McGowan got very little change out of the determined Queens defenders, who marked them extremely tightly.
The main hope of a goal lay in the excellent link-up play between Ferry and Caddis. On 29 minutes, the midfielder's superbly weighted pass was caught by the right back on the by-line and, at full pelt, he whipped in a cross to the back post which Conroy met and headed down towards goal, only to be denied by a flying save from the Queens keeper Sweeney.
Five minutes from half-time, Walsh set up Conroy from a short corner to whip in a great cross which Ferry headed wide. There was only time before the break for Traub to thunder into a challenge which blocked a shot from the Queens striker, who had been set up by a poor first touch by the Celtic defender.
The second half was simply one-way traffic. Four minutes into it, a low, fizzing 25-yard shot by Caddis was touched past the post by Sweeney.
On 59 minutes, a cute Richardson pass inside the full-back set Conroy up for a cross which prompted an almighty scramble in the box, with McGowan's effort eventually being hacked clear.
A clever McGowan back-heel put Conroy clear in the box but he pulled his effort well wide. On 67 minutes Caddis beat three players before trying a left-footed shot that was blocked.
Then Ferry's left-footed effort soared over. Celtic were in complete control but appeared to be getting increasingly frustrated by their attempts to grab that vital second goal.
With 22 minutes to go, Willie McStay made a double switch, putting Ryan McCafferty into the centre of defence in place of Traub and replacing one young Irish lad with another, Paul Cahillane coming on for Walsh.
Cahillane took up position on the left of midfield, with Conroy switching to the right, and immediately the tricky Under-17s player began to make a favourable impression.
With 10 minutes to go, he threaded a pass through to O'Brien, who shot into the side-netting before noticing the linesman was flagging for offside.
A minute later, Cahillane set up the second goal, jinking towards the byline before swinging in a cross which the keeper Sweeney seemed to have in his grasp. Sadly for the youngster, he let the ball squirm out of his gloves and McGowan poked the ball into the net.
John McGreoch then replaced Conroy, with the sub going to striker and O'Brien pushing across to the right of midfield.
With five minutes left, McCafferty met an O'Brien corner with a powerful header which was cleared off the line.
Then, with injury time approaching, Celtic grabbed their third with the slickest move of the game.
Richardson powered forward on the left before threading a pass in between two defenders for Cahillane, who played a cute first-time lay-off into the path of McGowan on the left-hand edge of the box. Wee Gowser took the ball on the run, speeding past one man, then cutting inside on to his right foot and stroking a curling shot into the far corner.
In the end, a comfortable scoreline but a far from comfortable match for the young Celts, who were made to work hard by their gallant visitors.

PLAYER RATINGS:

Scott Fox: Only had one save to make, but it was a belter at a crucial time. It reinforced my admiration for his lightning reflexes. Also showed that he is comfortable with the ball at his feet, making a couple of impressive passes.
Paul Caddis: What a wonderful performance by this talented right back. Surged forward time after time, showing control, pace and intelligence. Put in some great crosses and hit some impressive 40 and 50-yard cross-field passes. Linked up extremely well with Ferry. Very rarely gives the ball away. Still got a bit of growing and filling out to do but this lad has a real chance. A joy to watch today.
Dean Richardson: Another competent performance from the powerful left-back who also played some insightful passes. But unlike Caddis, Deano seems to advance to about 40 yards out and stop. Does his job well for the team but I've not seen enough from him yet to suggest he could make the step-up to first team level.
Andy Traub: Big and powerful young central defender who wins the ball well in the air and is a fiercesome tackler. But still seems to lack a bit of concentration - he could have given away a penalty and a goal within a minute of each other in the first half. And his best tackle came after he'd set up the Queens centre forward with a poor first touch on the edge of his own box. Still too many blooters for my liking; I'd like to see him show a bit more composure on the ball.
Scott Cuthbert: A class act. Won everything in the air against a giant opponent and showed impressive pace on a couple of occasions. Very composed on the ball. A real leader, who bawled instructions to his colleagues throughout the game. A stick-on for the first team squad, perhaps even as early as next season.
Gary Walsh: Stocky right midfielder had a pretty quiet game, mainly due to the fact that Paul Caddis was a magnet for the ball down that flank. Didn't do too much wrong, but the young Irishman has certainly had better days. Not helped by the Queens' defence-in-depth tactics which saw him denied time and room. Hopefully just a one-off from him, as this lad has been impressive in other games.
Charlie Grant: Powerful wee Neil Lennon clone is possibly the most terrifying tackler I've seen at this level; several times I winced as he hurtled in. Unfortunately, a couple of his most desperate tackles were to rescue possession after he'd given it away with poor control. Along with Ferry, Charlie ran this game in midfield, but I'd still like to see him show more daring, inventiveness and composure around the other team's penalty box. Then again, maybe he IS Neil Lennon!
Simon Ferry: The most accomplished player on the pitch, yet an unusually ineffective performance. Kept bombing forward, Petrov-like, hoping to get on the end of a flick in the box, but the chances simply didn't come his way. Didn't need to show his full range of passing against a camped-in defence but did link up superbly with Caddis on the right. Like Cuthbert, Simon could be a contender for the first team squad next season. A minor quibble; he could perhaps do with working on his long-range shooting, which could be a potent weapon against packed defences.
Ryan Conroy: Made a great start with his unsaveable free-kick after just two minutes. Whipped in some lovely set pieces and struck some magnificent long-range passes. Made a hash of a chance in the second half. Like Walsh on the other flank, he was largely frustrated by the tight marking of the opponents. Certainly a talented Bhoy who has a great chance.
Jim O'Brien: The big striker got more and more frustrated as the game went on. At one point in the first half he looked to have gone in the huff until Willie McStay bellowed at him to get into the box. Showed great close control and had one superb turn in the second half which ended with him being brutally hacked to the ground. He was caught offside too often in the first half, so will have to learn to time his runs better. Just not his day, but he's a smashing big player.
Paul McGowan: Showed great poacher's instincts to nab two late goals at the end of a match in which he was given very little room or time, and struggled to get into his stride. Gowser has a lot of strength and a lovely first touch, plus great vision, as he showed with a great backheel to set up Conroy. But he'll need to find a bit more pace to get away from giant defenders. A lot of talent, but has a lot of work to do.
Ryan McCafferty: Big Rybo came on for the last 23 minutes or so and did nothing wrong. Won the ball well in the air, has a good first touch and is a good passer. Certainly a more natural footballer than Traub. Just has to look at Scott Cuthbert and Stephen McManus to realise the work he'll have to do in the gym to become a first-team contender.
Paul Cahillane: The young Irishman changed the game in the last quarter of the game. He went past the Queens right back at will and sent in a stream of tempting crosses. Fortunate to see one being dropped by the keeper to set up the second goal but has to be commended for the cute pass that set up the third as well. Just 16, he kept it all a lot more simple than he had for the Under-17s a few weeks ago and looked a miles better player for it. Just keep beating your player and whipping in crosses and you'll be a star, son. Still small and slight, but definitely worth watching.
John McGreoch: On for the last five minutes at centre-forward but didn't get a chance to do anything. Very fast and committed, though. My spies tell me he's probably the fastest player in this team but have yet to see him get the chance to show how skill and composure he has.

Celtic U19s 3, Hearts U19s 0

SOMETIME soon, when the "Bobby Lennox Castle" Academy is up and running, Celtic may be able to offer spectators something akin to reasonable facilities in which to watch the club's young players in action. At present, though, we have to suffer the indignity of being shepherded behind the goal at Barrowfield to stand in what is effectively a muddy, puddle-strewn piece of spare ground.
Were it not for the dazzling array of talent on display, I would be sorely tempted to give these games a miss. As it was, the 60 or so spectators at this SPL Youth League match seemed to be almost all parents or grandparents of the players.
The aforementioned mump and moan is merely to explain why I still cannot be 100 per cent sure who scored Celtic's second goal in this encounter. To my failing eyes at the wrong end of the pitch, Paul McGowan robbed the Hearts keeper at the edge of the box as he attempted to deal with a long Scott Cuthbert clearance. Wee "Gowser" then laid the ball back to Jim O'Brien, who finished with the coolest of lobs into the empty net.
That goal, after 31 minutes, effectively sealed the points. Only thing is, the official website reported that it was O'Brien who set up McGowan to score. As my eldest daughter would say: "Whatever!"
The important thing was that these Celtic youths, who were mostly smaller and younger than their towering Hearts opponents, gave the teenagers from Edinburgh a football lesson, with some truly sparkling passages of play.
And at the heart of most of it was Simon Ferry, the stocky 17-year-old midfielder who simply ran the show with an accomplished display of tackling, passing with both feet and some scintillating runs.
Take the best parts of the games of Neil Lennon and Stilian Petrov, put them together in a 5ft 8in package of perpetual motion (topped, sadly, by a shocking "Look what a big seagull did to me" haircut!) and you'll have an idea of how good this young Dundonian is.
To my mind, he's a cert for next season's first team squad.
One move after 33 minutes epitomised his appetite for the game. He helped break up a Hearts move with a cushioned pass to right back Paul Caddis on the right-hand edge of the Celtic box. Simon ran on to collect the return pass, then sprayed the ball wide to Ryan Conroy on the left. As the Scotland Under-19 midfielder raced up the line, Ferry sprinted into the box, where he met Conroy's inch-perfect pass with a diving header that went a yard or so past the post. What a goal that would have been!
In the end, Celtic won comfortably. Yet for the first 20 minutes the play had largely been confined to the adjoining astroturf pitch, courtesy of some agricultural clearances from the Hearts rearguard. Then Ferry started to make the Tic tick. A 50-yard crossfield ball from him found Caddis, as ever, bombing up the right, and Celtic won a corner.
The ball was whipped in by Conroy to Marc Miller at the back post, who shot high into the net.
Next it was the turn of another player who will soon be a first team contender, Scott Cuthbert, to make an impact. In one amazing spell, the powerful big centre half won three tackles in a row at the edge of his own box.
And on 31 minutes, his fierce challenge in midfield led to the aforementioned second goal.
Celtic were now playing with flair and style. Ferry set up Caddis with a clever backheel. Then Conroy burst in from the left, beating three players before firing in a left-footed shot.
Keeper Scott Fox made a good save low down to his right before the Hearts centre forward blazed over their best chance after good work from their left winger, Driver.
In the second half, Caddis came forward to blast over from 20 yards before beautiful interplay from Ferry and Teddy Bjarnason saw Conroy's cross met on the half-volley by Simon, but his effort went just over.
Fox then had to make a superb diving save to keep out a header from Driver before Ferry once again showed his class.
He burst down the right and fired over a cross that was hooked over his own goal by a desperate Hearts defender. But when the corner was cleared, the pacy Driver was sent clear down the left - only to be dispossessed by Ferry, who had chased back all of 50 yards.
To cap off a superb performance, Simon Ferry burst through on the counter attack in the closing minutes, drew the keeper and squared for McGowan to tap into the empty net.
It had been a sparkling performance by a star in the making, and Gordon Strachan came straight from training to watch the last half hour of it.

MAN-BY-MAN RATINGS

Scott Fox: What little he had to do, he did very well. Saved low down to his right in the first half but made an incredible stop in the second half, diving full length to parry a header that looked a certain goal. Also held some good crosses well. An excellent performance, well appreciated by his granny and grandad, who were perched on wee foldaway seats behind the goal.

Paul Caddis: Very fast and skillful right back, he thudded into a few impressive tackles and hurtled forward on the overlap time and time again. Well suited to the new Celtic tactics. Occasionally left a bit exposed by young Miller on the right of midfield but Paul certainly has plenty of promise. Still a bit slight in the build department, so he'll need to fill out a bit over the next year or two. And he'll also want to eradicate the lapses of concentration that let Hearts in behind him at the back on a couple of occasions.

Dean Richardson: Powerful left back who does his job quietly but effectively. But perhaps he'll need to offer a bit more than that to take the next step in his career. Tended to stand back and watch the talented Ryan Conroy take on his man rather than race past on the overlap like Mo Camara. Did nothing wrong defensively but I'd still like to see him offer more in an attacking sense.

Scott Cuthbert: The Scotland Under-19 captain has spent most of the season in the Reserves, so I presume an injury to Ryan McCafferty was the reason for him returning to the youth side. Very powerful lad who played on the left side of central defence and looked a class above the rest of the defenders on show for either side. Clearances with both feet, towering headers, plenty of pace, loads of bawling and good composure on the ball. He'll be pushing for a place in the first team by the end of the season.

Andy Traub: Powerful big centre-half played to the right of Cuthbert and showed a great improvement from the last time I saw him against Kilmarnock. Won just about every header against the big Hearts forwards and put in some truly bone-shuddering tackles. No complaints on that front. But he looks very young and, dare I say it, a bit shy. Will need to shout and bawl a bit more and give everyone the impression that he truly belongs at this level. That would perhaps give him the confidence to take a bit more care with his distribution, which was a bit on the panicky side at times.

Marc Miller: Small and thin, but pacy with bags of skill, this 17-year-old forward was played on the right side of midfield, perhaps to further his education and sharpen up his reading of the game. Showed up well going forward and looked a real menace anywhere near the opposition's box. Was also on hand to knock in the first goal from point-blank range and could have had another before half-time. But he looked rather less keen on the defensive side of the game and on a couple of occasions left Caddis exposed. Has to work hard on his positioning and fitness. It must be borne in mind, though, that he showed bags of guts up against boys who were much bigger and stronger than him. A real talent who will need careful nurturing.

Simon Ferry: Have I not said it all already? This lad is going to be a star. Is being measured for Neil Lennon's jersey, and can certainly play the holding role in front of the defence. But he has so much more to his game than that. Superb passing with either foot, great reading of the game, and a real goal threat at the other end of the pitch. Hard to believe that he's still only 17. I have it on good authority that Gordon Strachan is VERY enthusiastic about this Bhoy.

Teddy Bjarnason: Another assured display from the new Wieghorst! A beautiful running style, with the ball seemingly tied to his feet, and he put in a great shift in the middle of the park alongside Ferry, the pair of them totally dominating possession and keping the ball off of the Hearts players for long spells. Seems to be getting stronger and fitter by the week. As I predicted, he's now starting to feature in the Reserves' line-ups. Should be on the fringes of the first team squad by the start of next season, perhaps featuring in a friendly or two. Another one who could be a real star if he keeps working hard.

Ryan Conroy: Scotland Under-19 midfielder, Ryan again ran the show on the left side of the pitch, taking on players with ease and whipping in some magnificent crosses. Even tried his luck with a long-range shot with his right foot. Tall and pacy, he has everything needed to be an important player for the team in a couple of years' time. Could maybe do with adding a half-stone of muscle to his frame before facing up to the SPL's hammer-throwers. Set up the first goal with one of his superbly-struck inswinging corners.

Jim O'Brien: Big Jim is a natural right winger but is also showing great promise at centre forward, where he has a better build than Miller to stand up to the "meaty" challenges of giant defenders. Won a few headers, held the ball up well and linked up with "Gowser" to good effect, especially at the second goal (no matter who scored it!). Very skillful and pacy with an eye for goal, he'll soon be a regular for the Reserves. One of those who could be in contention for the first team squad within a year and could, therefore, benefit from a short spell on loan elsewhere. There would be no shortage of teams willing to put him straight into their starting line-up.

Paul McGowan: Stocky wee striker with bags of pace and strength plus a great first touch. Has come on a bundle in recent games thanks to the confidence-building trick of sticking the ball in the net. Reminds me mostly of wee Shaun Maloney, but "Gowser" is actually a better goalscorer. Because of his lack of height, Paul will need to continue to work on his strength and pace to enable him to hold off and then get away from defenders. Will be the main man up front for the Under-19s for the rest of this season.

Garry Walsh and John McGrough came on as subs in the last two minutes for Marc Miller and Jim O'Brien. Skinner, Staunton and Cahillane were the subs not used. Charlie Grant was suspended for this game.

All we are saying is give youth a chance

Having seen practically every Celtic player from the age of 16 upwards in action this season, I can say with certainty that one young player outshines the rest of an extremely dazzling bunch.
He can go past two and three players in succession, has ball skills to die for and a mean shot with both his left and right foot. What's more, he is just 19.
Who is this mysterious genius? None other than Aiden McGeady, last season's wonderkid who is making good use of his time on the sidelines to build up his physique, work on his tactical awareness and stoke up a fierce determination to prove his doubters wrong.
Personally, I find it incredible that such a talented teenager should have attracted so much criticism at such an early stage in his career. Don't get me wrong, Gordon Strachan was right to leave him out of the team when he did. But to then be effectively written off by a small minority of fans must have been like a dagger to the heart of this lifelong Celtic fan.
Aiden's problem is that he is too good. As a youngster, he could simply beat players all day for fun. He never had to chase back and tackle or worry about his defensive position simply because, when he was on the pitch, the other team couldn't get the ball off of him.
The professional game is a different kettle of fish. As he showed against AC Milan, he has the talent to thrive at any level. Now he has had to work on the other, less glamorous sides of the game.
For a while, such was his impatient determination to play in next year's World Cup, it seemed Aiden would be wanting a move in January. Since then, Ireland's elminition and a heart-to-heart with Strachan have refocused the attentions of this mercurial attacking midfielder towards re-establishing himself in the Celtic first team.
The imminent departure of Shunsuke Nakamura on international duty for Japan will give him the opportunity. His performances for the Reserves and his appearance against Motherwell last week indicate he is in the mood to take it.
I certainly hope so, because Celtic do not want to be in the business of losing our most talented players. And the vultures, I can assure you, are circling.
Manchester United have had their eye on Aiden for several years. As have Arsenal, whose youth development coach Liam Brady has long been an admirer.
Yet such is the talent in the Celtic ranks that McGeady is far from being the only young player on whom envious eyes have been cast.
Craig Beattie, Shaun Maloney and Stephen McManus are only in the first team now because offers for them from several Scottish and English clubs were rejected in the past two years.
A number of lower-league clubs are hovering round our Reserve and Under-19 squads in the hope of, at the very least, picking up a talented loan signing in January who could transform their season.
Appreciation of Celtic's depth of talent at Under-17 and Under-19 level is not just confined to readers of this blog. Their matches are attended by a plethora of scouts; all there to see the Bhoys brigade, of course.
English teams are represented, as are most SPL clubs.
Indeed, even our greatest rivals have been making a concerted effort to address their obvious dearth of promising players in the 16 to 18 age bracket by trying to tempt one or two of our best talents.
Such seemingly unprincipled poaching comes as no surprise to those who work in the football development field; it is an occasionally vicious business.
Celtic, however, are in the extremely fortunate position of having enough skilful and determined youngsters in our ranks to make up the bulk of our first team squad for many years to come.
The first job is to hold on to that talent. The second is to develop and nurture it until ready for the first team.
Then, when talented players such as Scott Cuthbert, Simon Ferry and Michael McGlinchey step on to that Celtic Park pitch, it will be the duty of every fan to excuse their occasional and understandable lapses and cheer to the echo their every success.
Something to be borne in mind the next time that a certain 19-year-old lad steps into the breach for our beloved club.