Filip Twardzik magic sinks Liverpool

A brilliant ninth minute free kick from Filip Twardzik earned Celtic’s u-19 side a well deserved win over Liverpool today.

The game was held up for five minutes before half time as captain Matty Hughes required to be put in a neck brace and taken from the pitch on a first aid buggy before being ambulanced to hospital.

Happily the word tonight seems to be that there is no serious damage done.

Overall it was a scrappy match with little to get excited over although at this stage of the season it’s good to see how players have developed after a few months break.

After missing most of last season through injury Stephen O’Donnell caught the eye at right back with an energetic display while being solid defensively against Liverpool top player.

Twardzik’s goal was a classy effort, lifting the ball over the defensive wall and quickly back down into the net effortlessly from 22 yards out.

“It was a great goal,” coach Stevie Frail admitted. “We know that he’s got that, it was a great finish. When he steps up we’re always hopeful that he can do that.

“He works hard on free kicks in training but a lot of it is down to sheer ability. He has a good technique and we encourage him to practise. He works on hitting the target and it was a great goal.

“It’s good to hear that the manager (Neil Lennon) is talking about the younger lads, I heard that Filip did well at Lincoln but we’re still working on his fitness. It’s our job to make these players recognised.”

Frail added: “Players get physical with Filip, he’ll need to accept that if he’s a good player. Maybe he needs to move the ball quicker at times by playing a simple pass and moving rather than taking a few touches and getting hit. He’s standing up to it.”

Filip played in the centre of three players supporting Liam Gormley playing as the sole striker.

Callum McGregor’s pace and trickery on the left provided the Liverpool defence with a lot of problems while Patrik, Filip’s twin, showed flashes of ability on the right and was unlucky with a 25th minute shot that stuck the post after he cut in from the flank.

Six minutes from half-time Hughes was injured in a routine challenge in the penalty box following a corner from McGregor. The seriousness wasn’t obvious at first but as he lay motionless in the goalmouth with his arms outstretched the medical teams from both clubs attended to him with the referee calling an end to the first half as both sets of players stood around.

O’Donnell shot into the side netting four minutes into the second half but it was Liverpool that were getting on top as the second half developed although Celtic’s trialist goalkeeper was well protected by birthday bhoy Curtis Jones and substitute Joe Chalmers.

Islam Feruz replaced Callum Bagshaw on the hour mark and looked strong in the centre of the park without being able to deliver a telling pass to the more attacking midfielders.

Belfast bhoy Paul George replaced Gormley and went onto the left wing midway through the half with Frail introducing his substitutes sparingly as the age of the team descended.

After the match the Celtic coach admitted: “We were quite disappointed by the performance but pleased to have won against a Premiership team. We can play a lot better.

“There’s still a few weeks to go before the first game of the season and lots for us to work on.

“We know that we can do a lot better and we’ve told the players that. It’s good to win and improve our fitness but in terms of how we want to play the game it never really happened for us.”

CELTIC: Trailist (Thompson 73), O’Donnell, Jones, Hughes (Chalmers 45), Brennan; Lowden (Trialist 74), Bagshaw (Islam 59); P Twardzik (Marsden 71), F Twardzik (Herron), McGregor; Gormley (George)

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