SPL Under-20 League
Firhill Stadium
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
CELTIC U20s…4
P. Twardzik 29, Atajic 50, 60 Johnstone 54
HAMILTON U20s...1
o.g. 81
CELTIC Under-20s preserved their 100 per cent start to the season with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Hamilton at Firhill.
Patrik Twardzik´s spectacular strike put the young Hoops in charge at the break. A brace from Bahrudin Atajic and Denny Johnstone´s low drive extended their advantage in the second half.
Seconds after Stuart Findlay harshly saw red, the visitors scored a consolation in the final 10 minutes through an own goal. But the Bhoys saw out the rest of the game with ease to record their third win on the spin.
Having struck in both the opening fixtures of the campaign, Atajic was brimming with confidence and he was first to threaten following good work on the left by Lewis Kidd but the striker failed to connect with the cutback.
Jackson Irvine also looped a header towards the far post from a corner on the left as the young Celts made a brisk start to the game.
However, Hamilton with several first-team players among their side, could have opened the scoring when James Martin volleyed a cross over at the far post.
Clever play on the right from Twardzik then presented Atajic with a sight of goal and he forced the Hamilton keeper into a smart save.
Just before the half hour mark, the youths broke the deadlock thanks to a wonder-strike from Twardzik. The Czech attacker picked up the ball 30 yards out before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the top corner.
Buoyed by making the breakthrough, the young Hoops were playing some terrific stuff, and a sweeping, passing move across the pitch ended with Denny Johnstone firing over.
And another effort from distance, this time from Irvine, forced the Hamilton shot-stopper into an excellent save just before the interval.
They maintained their momentum after the restart as Darnell Fisher sent Irvine scampering through on goal, and although the midfielder beat the keeper to the ball, he couldn’t keep his effort on target.
However, shortly after, the youths doubled their advantage. Fisher was felled in the box after an enterprising run down the right and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Atajic took responsibility and squeezed his shot in the far corner for his third goal of the season.
In their next attack, the youngsters added number three as Twardzik fed Johnstone inside the box and he drilled the ball under the keeper from an acute angle.
It was one-way traffic now. On the hour mark, they scored their fourth. After a neat interchange on the left between Jaime Lindsay and Twardzik, the latter drove into the box before supplying Atajic who made no mistake with a powerful drive.
With 10 minutes remaining, Stuart Findlay was giving his marching orders for what the referee deemed to be a raised boot when making a challenge. It looked a harsh decision on the young defender.
From the resultant free-kick, Accies pulled a goal back when a Celtic player turned a cross into his own net. However, the ten men held on comfortably for a deserved three points
CELTIC (4-3-3) Fasan; Fisher (Henderson 70) McNally, Findlay, Waters; Irvine, Kidd, Lindsay; Johnstone, Atajic, P. Twardzik (Donnelly 72)
Not Used: Barrowman, Daniels, McManus, Kirwan
Richtig erfreulicher Abend heute.
