u-17 coaching team
Joe Chalmers and Paul George were the goal heroes but every single player played their part in a great win.
Special praise goes out to u-15 goalkeeper Chris Trusdale who took over when James Wightman was red carded four minutes from half-time.
This season’s Glasgow Cup format sees all five teams play each other home and away with the top two side’s meeting in the final at Hampden.
Being a goal and a man down with a rookie in goals would be asking a lot of any team- against Rangers the young Celts responded magnificently.
A stunning 25 yard free kick from Chalmers brought Celtic level before the interval with George scoring a spectacular winner with 15 minutes left to play.
The tone for a competitive encounter was set in the second minute when Darnell Fisher was booked for a foul that could easily have been dealt with by a warning.
Celtic were setting the pace with George leading the line with style and courage despite some heavy treatment from the Rangers defenders.
Marcus Fraser almost gave Celtic the lead in the fourth minute but his low shot was met by an instinctive save from the Rangers keeper after George had created space on the left.
Rangers had their number 5 and number 6 booked in quick succession around the half hour mark but four minutes from the interval Celtic ‘keeper Wightman was red carded after he was judged to have fouled the Rangers number 9 in the penalty box.
Young Trusdale was quickly rushed into action but had no chance of making a glorious entry when he was sent the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Matchwinner Paul George
The Rangers number 4 was next into the book and could have seen red after grabbing hold of Islam Feruz as the midfielder attempted to burst through on goal.
Chalmers delivered full punishment with a brilliant left footed free kick that curled round the Rangers wall and dipped in under the bar.
After the break it was all Celtic with the motto of attack being the best form of defence leaving young Trusdale as a virtual spectator.
A great defensive tackle from Fraser prevented Trusdale from being tested in the 59th minute with the Rangers number 6 being red carded on the advise of the assistant referee after another lunge at Feruz was followed by kicking the ball away.
Celtic continued to push forward at every opportunity with Belfast bhoy George showing great control to shrug off a defender before sending a great 20 yard drive curving round the Rangers ‘keeper.
There was no inclination to park the bus from the young Celts as they continued to push forward looking for a third goal.
George, Fraser and Islam all had chances to extend the lead with a Chalmers free kick from wide on the right striking the post.
In the second minute of injury time Trusdale got down well to touch a low free kick onto the post but that was the only scare as the young Celts claimed a well deserved win.
CELTIC James Wightman; Michael Miller, Marcus Fraser, Joe O’Brien, Joe Chalmers; Darnell Fisher (Jordan Moffat 90), Joe Heron, Islam Feruz, Mo Yaqub; Michael Fulton (Chris Trusdale) , Paul George.
Tommy McIntyre’s thoughts on the game
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C’Mon the Weans……
some good prospects by the looks of things….