von Armin_Bhoy » Mo 13. Apr 2015, 19:42
SPFL Development League
Highland Football Academy, Dingwall
Monday, April 13, 2015
INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE...0
CELTIC....3
(Duffy 33, Lindsay pen. 67, McGrath 74)
CELTIC’S Development Side leapfrogged Hamilton Accies and moved up to second spot in the league after an impressive 3-0 victory away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Michael Duffy scored his second goal in the space of six days in the 33rd minute to put the young Hoops in charge at the Highland Football Academy in Dingwall.
Having dominated the match from the first whistle, it was a thoroughly merited lead for Stevie Frail’s side and they clinically sealed the spoils in the second half with two further counters.
First, Jamie Lindsay scored from the spot after Aidan McIlduff had been felled in the box, before Jaison McGrath’s thumping half-volley crowned an excellent performance from the Hoops youngsters.
There were four changes from the team that enjoyed a 2-0 success against St Johnstone last week, with Calum Waters, Lindsay, McIlduff, Aidan Nesbitt coming into the starting XI. Kieran Tierney, Tom Rogic, Derk Boerrigter and McGrath were the four to drop out.
In blustery conditions, the young Hoops started positively, playing at a high tempo and pressing their opponents at every opportunity.
Their purposeful approach paid dividends as they forced the home side back, with Lindsay and Connor McManus dictating controlling proceedings from the middle of the park.
The Bhoys did have the ball in the net in the sixth minute through Duffy but the forward was flagged for offside.
Despite their control of the contest, Frail’s side had yet to really carve out a clear chance, but in the 15th minute a swift interchange of passing involving Lindsay, Duffy and Joe Thomson gave McIlduff a sight of goal from an acute angle, the winger firing wide.
Lindsay then tried to take matters into his own hands, sending two shots off target from distance in quick succession.
Aside from a flurry of corners for the Caley Jags, the Bhoys were dominant and they got the breakthrough they deserved just after the half-hour mark. After a corner was won on the right, Thomson floated an inviting delivery into the middle and Duffy was on hand to apply the finish.
A promising attack down the right saw Duffy cut inside and tee-up Waters, who blasted over from long-range, before goalkeeper Cameron Mackay came to the home side’s rescue as the youths continued to pour forward.
Following a rapid counter attack, Lindsay bore down on goal but Mackay was equal to his shot, with Duffy unable to convert the rebound.
Greater gaps were now beginning to appear in the Inverness backline as Celtic finished the half strongly.
When another Thomson corner caused havoc in the box, only a last-ditch clearance prevented Jamie McCart’s header from crossing the line at the back post.
Moments later, Nesbitt’s delighteful delivery was met by an onrushing McIlduff but he couldn’t control his finish.
And on the stroke of half-time, Thomson was thwarted by Mackay after McManus’ shot had broken into his path inside the box.
There was no drop in urgency following the restart as the Bhoys came within inches of doubling their lead inside 60 seconds.
Duffy showed great determination to dig out a cross from the byline and McIlduff’s first-time volley rattled off the outside of the post.
Inverness had shown little prospect of getting back on level terms and when Liam Polworth did make some progress into the box, Lindsay was alert to block the final shot.
The midfielder had been an assertive presence throughout the match, driving his team forward, and he quickly threatened at the other end, bursting beyond several challenges on an incisive thrust into the box.
Although his final effort was charged down, the loose ball broke to McIlduff, whose shot whizzed beyond the post.
But Lindsay would be rewarded for his efforts midway through the half. As McIlduff rose to meet Sam Wardrop’s hanging cross, he was fouled in the air by Jamie Wilson, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Lindsay stepped up confidently and swept the ball home from 12 yards.
That goal killed off any lingering hopes of a comeback from the home side and the young Hoops added a third goal with 16 minutes remaining in spectacular style as substitute McGrath fastened onto a long ball and thundered a first-time drive into the top of the net. It was a fantastic finish from the young Celt.
And Frail’s side comfortably saw out the closing stages to claim maximum reward and head into the final stretch of the season with renewed belief.
CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Fasan; Wardrop, Kelleher, McCart, Waters; McManus (Chalmers 60), Lindsay (Hill 74); Nesbitt (McGrath 66), Thomson, McIlduff; Duffy
Not Used: Doohan, Hendry
Brendan Rodgers Fenian Army
