Celtic’s u-19 side finally got back to business today with a 5-1 win over Airdrie taking Stevie Frail’s side into the last eight of the SFA Youth Cup.
After two months of postponments broken by a fortnight’s training in Turkey the cup holders got back to work with an impressive win over the First Division side who put out Kilmarnock in the previous round.
James Keatings, Callum McGregor, Liam Gormley and the Twardzik twins of Patrik and Filip were on target before Scott Sally got a late consolation for the visitors.
“We did well in parts but there’s one or two things that we need to keep working on but overall it was a decent performance,” Frail admitted.
“It was pleasing to score five times although we were disappointed by the goal that we lost.
“It’s always difficult against a team like Aidrie who have a real cup tradition at any level, we knew that they’d make it difficult. We had to stick to the task, a couple of times we got a bit sloppy but overall I’m pleased with the display.”
Keatings had the first chance of the day in the 7th minute when he raced onto a long pass from Stephen O’Donnell but saw his shot touched round the post by the Airdrie ‘keeper.
Eleven minutes later Keatings made amends to put Celtic in front. Callum McGregor was the provider with a quick pass out of midfield with Keats taking the ball onto his left foot before drilling a low shot into the net.
Airdrie’s early aggression began to drop as Celtic took control of the match with McGregor racing onto a long clearance from Robbie Thompson before shooting home from 15 yards out in the 36th minute.
Only bad luck and some inspired goalkeeping kept the score at 2-0 at the half time break. Four minutes from the interval Filip Twardzik set up his brother but the visiting keeper was well positioned to block the shot before a vicious shot from Keatings right on half time struck the bar and rebounded outside the 18 yard box.
Celtic kept up the pressure after the break with Filip Twardzik pinging a great free-kick round the Airdrie wall to find the net in the 51st minute.
On another day Keatings would have had a hat-trick but his usually deadly finishing was absent as he missed a couple of decent chances before going off with cramp to be replaced by Liam Gormley after 67minutes.
Patrik Twardzik joined his brother on the scoresheet in the 68th minute with a low drive from 25 yards out following a poweful run from midfield.
Gormley wasted no time making an impression neatly racing onto a pass from Callum Bagshaw before rounding the keeper and putting the ball into the net from a tight angle.
“It was well a well worked goal from Liam,” Frail added. “We showed some good movement and sharp passing. That’s the way that we want to play and Liam went round the keeper and finished it well.”
With 12 minutes left Sally scored a good solo effort for Airdrie whilst Matty Hughes was left injured on the halfway line.
In the next round Celtic have been drawn at home to Stenhousemuir with the game scheduled to be played on Sunday February 13.
CELTIC 4-2-3-1 Thompson; O’Donnell, Toshney (Chalmers 70), Hughes, Brennan; F Twardzik ( Lowdon 64), Bagshaw; P Twardzik, McGregor, George; Keatings (Gormley 67) SUBS Feely, Herron
GOALS: Keatings 18, McGregor 36, F Twardzik 51, P Twardzik 68, Gormley 70
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