Celtic Reserves 2, Dundee United Reserves 1

THE best news about this game came 24 hours after it finished, when it was confirmed that 18-year-old midfielder Simon Ferry had NOT suffered a broken ankle following a ridiculous challenge from Dundee United's Barry Robson.
Sometimes you have to wonder about the mentality of some so-called "professional" footballers. Just 10 minutes from the end of this relatively meaningless encounter, Robson, who had enjoyed a largely frustrating time due to the close attentions of Celtic's young right back Gary Irvine, was dispossessed by the ever-industrious Ferry.
As the young Celt sprinted away with the ball, Robson hared after him like a spoilt wean whose dummy had just been pilfered. Making no attempt to get the ball, he then launched into a tackle-come-assault that left his teenage opponent writhing about in an agonised heap.
It should have been a straight red card for this clown; instead he was let off with a yellow one, itself a rare sight at reserve matches.
As the stricken Ferry was helped from the field, I wondered if Robson felt proud of himself that he had potentially crippled one of the country's best young prospects.
Fortunately, it now appears that young "Si" suffered only bruised ligaments, although this injury, as I know well from several knocks inflicted on me during my long and undistinguished amateur career, can be pretty excruciating at the time.
That means it won't be long before Simon retakes his place in a Reserves squad which is getting younger and more exciting by the week.
In this match at Airdrie's Shyberry Excelsior Stadium, they faced a United side containing several familiar faces. Up front was former Hearts striker Lee Miller, who was partnered by Scotland Under-19s player David Goodwillie.
In midfield was the oafish Robson and ex-Rangers and West Brom veteran Derek McInnes. And at the back was the giant Garry Kenneth, the only player on show who could claim to have scored a winning goal for Celtic in a Scottish Cup Final!
The young Hoops had David Marshall in goal behind a back four of Gary Irvine, Scott Cuthbert, Darren O'Dea and Mr Perpetual Motion himself, Mo Camara.
In the centre of midfield was team captain Paul Lawson and the tireless Stephen Pearson, while on the flanks were Michael McGlinchey and the exciting left winger Ryan Conroy.
Up front was the powerful and strong-running pairing of Rocco Quinn, resplendent in a half-grown beard, and the impressive Irish striker Diarmuid O'Carroll.
This line-up dominated possession from the first whistle. United's right back Stuart Abbott had a particularly torrid time of it, with Conroy running at him time and again, beating him on the inside and outside with ease. And on the few occasions when he managed to hold Ryan up, he saw the pacy blur of Camara thundering past him on the overlap.
On the right flank, McGlinchey tended to drift inside a bit more, but Irvine was rarely able to get past him towards the by-line. Nevertheless, young Michael showed some great skill, with some dazzling, twisting runs which pulled defenders all over the place and opened up space for others.
However, Celtic's most dangerous attacks originated down the left flank, from where Camara and Conroy fired in a succession of dangerous crosses.
On 18 minutes, Quinn set up O'Carroll for a good chance, but Diarmuid's fierce drive went inches past the post. Then a cute McGlinchey chip sent Pearson through on goal, but the big man's control let him down at the vital moment and the chance was lost.
O'Carroll, whose strong running into the corners posed a constant menace for the United defence, robbed Kenneth to set up Quinn for a shot which whistled just over the bar.
And on 27 minutes, a typically fierce, inswinging corner from Conroy was missed by United keeper Craig Samson but no Celt was on hand to capitalise on his mistake.
The breakthrough came on 31 minutes, and was a just reward for some classic centre-forward play from Quinn. Big Rocco took control of the ball in his own half and sprinted forward before setting up Conroy on the left. Quinn then raced into the box for the cross, which whizzed just inches over his head. But Lawson, who was following up at the back post, blocked a defender's clearance to set the ball up for Rocco, who drilled it into the bottom corner.
Coach Kenny McDowall then ordered a switch of flanks for McGlinchey and Conroy in an attempt to copy the formula used so successfully by the first team. Minutes later, some more classic dribbling from McGlinchey set up Camara on the by-line for a driven cross which somehow missed everyone, before United fashioned their only real chance of the half.
The solid central defensive partnership of Cuthbert (now shaven-headed!) and O'Dea had meant Marshall was a virtual spectator until 37 minutes, when a chipped pass sent midfielder David Robertson racing past a poor attempt at an offside trap. The United player just beat the Celtic keeper to the ball at the edge of the box but his attempted lob sailed a foot over the bar.
Celtic's inability to hold their line at the back cost them a cheap equaliser at the start of the second half when a Robson free-kick found Miller in acres of space to volley past Marshall.
Simon Ferry then came on for Conroy, taking up a post in central midfield, with Pearson pushing left. And the young sub made an immediate impact, winning a throw-in near the right corner flag. It was hurled into the box by Irvine, and somehow the bouncing ball found its way to Quinn, who rifled home his, and Celtic's, second.
On 70 minutes, hard-tackling midfielder Charlie Grant came on for McGlinchey and pacy striker Nicky Riley replaced O'Carroll. But with all three subs committed, Celtic were then reduced to 10 men by Robson's assault on Ferry.
Celtic seemed content to take the sting out of the game, with Cuthbert and O'Dea once again impressing with some powerful and uncompromising defending.
The young Celts almost made it 3-1 when Pearson ran clear down the left and squared to Riley at the back post. But the youngster's shot slid agonisingly past.
But just before the final whistle Marshall preserved the win with a flying save to keep out a McInnes piledriver. A timely reminder of this young goalkeeper's prodigious talent.
Of immediate interest to Gordon Strachan is the fact that Lawson, Pearson and, especially, Camara looked fit and willing, should they need to be called upon in the coming weeks.
Looking ahead, though, it has to be massively encouraging for everyone at Celtic that 12 of the 14 players on show for this Reserves side are 21 or under, with seven of them, in fact, aged just 18. And make that NINE if you include the unused subs, keeper Scott Fox and defender Craig Reid.
The priority for the rest of this season will be to get this exciting group of players toughened up with first team training, reserve matches against SPL fringe players and, hopefully, occasional run-outs for the first team.
I have no doubt that the likes of those mentioned above, plus others such as Paul Caddis, Teddy Bjarnason and Jim O'Brien will feature in some friendlies and testimonial games over the next few months.
By the start of next season, as many as half a dozen of them could actually have been incorporated into the first team squad, with one or two mounting strong claims for starting places.
Hopelessly optimistic? Let's wait and see.