Celtic Under-19s 1, Livingston Under-19s 0

CELTIC'S young Bhoys heeded the words of showbiz legend Bruce Forsyth with this hard-fought, but largely frustrating, win over Livingston. As the big-chinned one was wont to say: "Points mean prizes." And the three points won here take the baby Hoops closer to their goal of retaining the SPL Youth League title.
The fact that the margin of victory was not greater owed much to the approach of the visitors from West Lothian. Tactically, they pushed up, compressed the play and stuck to a very vigorous pressing game.
More pertinently, they basically kicked anything that moved. The fact that they escaped without a single booking was wholly due to an inadequate performance from the geriatric match official, whose approach of handing out warnings galore only served to encourage the cloggers.
In the end, Celtic had only a coolly taken goal by Icelandic midfielder Teddy Bjarnason to show for their efforts, but a hatful of chances were missed in the second half.
Willie McStay's side had started the game with Scott Fox in goal, with Paul Caddis at right back and Dean Richardson fit again and regaining his berth at left back. The central defenders were burly English lad Paul Hutchinson on the right and the powerful Irish stopper Darren O'Dea on the left.
In midfield, Mark Millar started on the right with the pacy Canadian Jacob Lensky on the left. In the centre was Simon Ferry and the elegant Teddy Bjarnason.
Up front, the battling Killarney kid Diarmuid O'Carroll led the line alongside poacher supreme Paul McGowan.
Sadly, wee Gowser's game was cut short after just 15 minutes following a nasty stamp which the referee chose to ignore. Paul tried to battle on, but eventually limped off.
McStay reacted with a complete switch of personnel down the right flank. Central defender Ryan McCafferty came on at right back, Caddis pushed up to midfield and Millar went to centre-forward.
Such was Livingston's frenzied start that it took the Celts until the 17th minute to fashion a decent chance. A corner was cleared to the edge of the box, where Ferry lofted a clever header over the defence as it pushed out. Unfortunately, it fell to O'Dea on his right foot, and he pulled his shot wide.
Big 'Rybo' McCafferty had a nervous few minutes as he settled into the unfamiliar full back slot, but he set up the only goal of the game after 26 minutes.
His long pass floated over the Livi central defenders and found Bjarnason, who controlled it beautifully, beat a man, then casually passed it into the corner of the net.
The fact that a long ball had provided the goal came as no surprise, as Celtic had changed their tactics to counter the visitors' constant pressing. With Livi's defenders pushing out quickly to pressure Bjarnason and Ferry, McStay had demanded passes in behind the back four, with the strikers being told to get out of the way to allow midfield runners to beat the offside trap.
For a team which usually prides itself in its silky short-passing moves, the change came as a bit of a culture shock. But it was clearly the right decision by the team coach.
Indeed, after 39 minutes Bjarnason should have made it 2-0 when he beat the offside trap and latched on to a long blooter by Fox. But, straight through on goal, the Icelandic lad hit his shot against the Livingston keeper's legs when it seemed easier to walk the ball round him.
Before that, Livingston had missed their only chance of the game. And what a golden one it was. O'Dea fed his fellow Irishman O'Carroll on the halfway line, but big Diarmuid's return pass only found the Livingston No. 10, who ran straight through on goal.
Hutchinson, though, did well to close him down, and his shot soared a yard over the bar.
Celtic had clearly been hussled out of their stride by Livingston's tactics, including their merciless clogging of Caddis on the right flank. But at half-time, coach McStay steadied the ship and got his players to play the ball quicker and keep it simpler.
As a result, the second half was simply one-way traffic. First, Millar charged down the keeper's clearance, only for the rebound to clear the bar by a foot. Then Lensky teed up Bjarnason for a right-foot shot which Teddy pulled well wide.
After 54 minutes, Bjarnason put O'Carroll through, but his low cross for Millar was cleared from a corner. Richardson took the kick, which Hutchinson headed into the side netting.
Three minutes later, Richardson was again the provider from a free-kick on the right, and O'Dea was so unlucky to see his back-header crash off the bar.
On 65 minutes, another great move down the left saw Lensky and Millar link up to feed Bjarnason in the box, but when his effort was blocked, the rebound was sclaffed wide by Caddis on his left foot.
Young Paul came so close to making up for that gaffe 10 minutes later when he fired in a fantastic shot with his right foot which rocketed towards the top corner, only to be tipped over superbly by the Livi keeper.
With 10 minutes left, a long McCafferty pass sent O'Carroll charging into the box, but he got a bit over-excited and sliced his shot into the side netting.
Celtic's rhythm was disrupted again when Caddis was helped off after a nasty clash of heads. Young Irish forward Tim Kiely, who is just back after a long injury lay-off, came on and went up front, with Millar dropping back again to right of midfield.
Thankfully, the young Bhoys finished the game on top, with O'Carroll seeing a good left-foot shot saved at the near post, then Millar and Ferry linked up on the left before Millar's toe-poke skidded inches past the post.
Seconds later, Dean Richardson punched the air with joy and relief as the final whistle went.
It won't go down as the most memorable game these lads have ever played but, at the end of the season, they will remember what auld Brucie said...

PLAYER RATINGS

Scott Fox: Didn't have a lot to do. Saved a long-range shot early on and came off his line quickly to put pressure on the Livi forward when he was through on goal. Also did well in the second half to beat Sean Kerr to the ball after a poor Caddis pass-back. That apart, his shouting was largely good, although he would be well advised to cut out the heckling of referees. Leave that to me, Foxy!
Paul Caddis: Looked set for another McGrain-esque marauding performance from right back until McGowan's injury pushed him into midfield. Was hacked time and again, yet still kept trying to beat his man. Messed up one chance, then came close with a great shot. A class act. Looked a bit dazed after being taken off with 10 minutes to go.
Dean Richardson: Good to see him regaining his left back berth after an injury. Supplied a string of chances from the right flank with inswinging corners and free-kicks. Did nothing wrong defensively, but occasionally tried to be too clever in possession. One of the real leaders in this team, though, and will richly deserve his medal(s) at the end of the season.
Darren O'Dea: Good to see him back at Under-19 level, where his strength and no-nonsense approach made him a stand-out. Had a hard shift against a couple of agressive forwards but looked a class above them (although to be fair, Livi's No 9 Sean Kerr is a couple of years younger). Big Darren almost scored, too. Will be pushing hard for a place in the first team squad VERY soon.
Paul Hutchinson: Big English stopper won everything in the air and thundered into some meaty tackles. Kept everything simple. Doesn't look the most accomplished ball-player in the world but did a very good job for his team.
Mark Millar: Started on the right of midfield, where he had been excellent in the last game I'd seen him in, but was then pushed up front, where he struggled against Livingston's bully-boy approach. Still just a lad, with a bit of growing and filling out to come. Good in possession and a definite talent.
Simon Ferry: A relatively quiet game for Si, who was crowded out at the start, then saw Celtic play a lot of back-to-front stuff. But oozed class when he had the ball, and totally dominated the second half. Non-stop energy from start to finish.
Teddy Bjarnason: A man-of-the-match performance from the classy Icelandic kid, whose close control is a joy to behold. Scored one, should have had another, yet sprinted back time after time to break up Livi attacks. Perhaps needs a wee nasty streak to deal with some of the nonsense he's going to have to cope with, but this is one skillful player. A genuine prospect who will be a fixture in the Reserves team at the START of next season. After that... watch this space!
Jacob Lensky: When this big Canadian gets the ball at his feet, he takes some stopping. Tremendous pace and control, and very direct. But when the ball's not at his feet, big Jacob seems to fade right out of the game. Needs to get more involved. Seems a bit shy, and he is very young. But if he can add a bit of aggression to his game, Jacob will be some player. Great to watch.
Paul McGowan: Crocked before he'd had a decent touch of the ball. Sat and watched the rest of the game. The team really missed his selfless running and deadly poaching.
Diarmuid O'Carroll: A wonderful targetman performance from the powerful Irish teenager. He was an absolute glutton for punishment, showing himself for every clearance, holding off defenders, beating them for pace and winning the ball in the air. Will be a bit annoyed at his bad pass in the first half, and could have had a couple of goals late on. But he was the out-ball time and time again for Celtic and took more than a few whacks. Led the line superbly.
Ryan McCafferty: Has usually played central defence but came on here at right back. Struggled at first, but his long passes and early crosses set up several chances, including the only goal of the game. Faultless defensively, but will want to work on his composure in possession, as he rushed a few passes. But did well, considering he was out of position.
Tim Kiely: Young Irish forward who has been out for a while with a bad injury. Looks stocky, fast and powerful, but hardly got a touch of the ball in his few minutes on the pitch. Hope to see him get more playing time in the next few weeks.
Subs not used: Owen 'Casey' Jones (Welsh goalkeeper), Jason Marr (Under-17s right back, whose practice shots at half-time allowed me to make my debut as a Celtic ballboy!).