Scottish Youth League
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Hannah Park, Shotts
MOTHERWELL... 1
CELTIC... 3
(Cahillane 38, 45, Millar 78)
THE UNDER-19s had to contend with both the elements and the mounting
pressure of this season’s title race against Motherwell and emerged with
flying colours and all three points after an impressive performance.
A run of three consecutive league defeats has left John McLaughlan’s men little room to manoeuvre in the remaining weeks of this season, with title rivals Rangers having seized a one point advantage at the top of the Youth League after their recent derby win.
So the pressure was building on the defending champions as they ran out to face a talented and physical Motherwell side who have been their main title rivals in recent seasons.
Yet amid the howling wind and pounding rain at Hannah Park on Saturday, this young Celtic side showed their own strength and ability, with a Paul Cahillane double and Mark Millar strike sealing a well-earned victory.
The youths also had to contend with losing an early goal in almost ridiculous circumstances in this match, with the home side awarded a penalty after Celtic centre-back Andy Traub slid-in and legitimately blocked a shot on goal.
Unfortunately for the Fife-born teenager the referee was one of the few people in Hannah Park who thought otherwise and Motherwell’s Ross Forbes stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past Paul Skinner.
But having made a positive start, the youths did not buckle and calmly stuck to their gameplan, immediately putting their opponents on the back foot.
Chances followed and when Kevin Cawley broke for the byline in the 38th minute and curled a dangerous ball into the box, it was met expertly in the air by the diminutive Paul Cahillane and powered into the back of the net.
Rather than rest on their laurels as half-time approached, Celtic continued to cause problems for the Motherwell defence and there were just seconds remaining on the clock when left-back Daniel Lafferty was crudely felled on the edge of the penalty box.
This presented influential midfielder, Mark Millar, with an opportunity and when goalkeeper, Alan Martin was only able to parry his dipping drive, Cahillane was on hand to knock home the loose ball.
After the restart Celtic continued to dominate the game and create chances, although Motherwell now had the wind at their back and poured a series of long balls forward.
But McLaughlan’s men were meanwhile keeping the ball down, knocking their passes around with flair and confidence and after 16-year-old substitute Carlo Monti entered the fray, they continued to gather momentum.
Then, with just 12 minutes remaining in the match and after Martin had done well to save a goalbound Paul Caddis effort, Celtic rounded off an impressive performance with a third.
This time it was Millar himself who finished from close-range, after an outstanding passing move which involved Cahillane, Caddis and Cawley and the strike proved to be a fitting conclusion to a dominant display.
“Every single player contributed in this win and came up with the performance,” commented McLaughlan after the match, “and it was a time when they needed to do it.
“Despite the recent results the boys have worked hard in training every day that they have come in to Celtic Park and they have not let their heads go down.
“They got the rewards for that hard-work today with a fine performance and excellent win, in what were at times very demanding conditions.
“The challenge now is for them to continue that in the remaining games this season and make sure that if Rangers slip-up, we are in a position to capitalise.”
WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Cahillane
CELTIC (4-3-3) Skinner; Caddis, Marr, Traub, Lafferty; Millar, Hepburn, Anderson; Cawley, Cahillane, Carey (Monti 65).
MOTHERWELL (4-4-2) Martin; Murray, Gupwell, Donnelly, Brownlie; Nixon, Lygate (Wilson 70), Forbes, Murphy; Gormley, Archdeacon.
