Celtic’s u-17 side lost out by the only goal of the game to Rangers tonight at Murray Park.
The young Celts failed to find top form and lost out to long range free kick that deceived James Wightman and ended up in the back of the net.
After beating Rangers 2-1 at Lennoxtown earlier in the competition it was a disappointing performance in which the players failed to do themselves justice despite enjoying some long spells of possession.
“We never got started in the first half but did a bit better after the break,” Tommy McIntyre admitted. “But the game petered out without us creating too many chances, any chances we created we snatched at.
“We’re very disappointed and the players feel the same. We’ll take a few positives from it, sometimes you need to experience that kind of defeat to develop.
“We’ll learn from the game, we’re not afraid to face upto that and I’m almost certain that we’ll come back stronger.”
Celtic teamed Islam Feruz with new Swedish signing William Ankarhake in attack but they didn’t get much joy out of the Rangers defence.
In midfield John Herron and Darnell Fisher were paired together in the centre with Paul George starting on the left and Lewis Kidd on the right but switched wings after the break.
At the back Marcus Fraser and Joe Chalmers played at full-back with Joey O’Brien partnering a trialist in the centre of defence.
Celtic’s best spell came early in the second half but Herron shot over after good build up play from Chalmers and George before Fraser came close to heading a Chalmers cross into the net.
With Celtic pushing for the breakthrough Rangers took the lead in the 70th minute when a long distance free-kick sailed high into the net.
From the restart Feruz was sent off for retaliating after being fouled with a Rangers player also red carded with 12 minutes left to play for a lunge at George.
Celtic sent on Denny Johnstone and Jack Kirwan in an attempt to equalise but despite forcing a couple of corners the Rangers goal was well protected.
CELTIC: James Wightman; Marcus Fraser, Trialist, Joe O’Brien, Joe Chalmers; Lewis Kidd, John Herron, Darnell Fisher (John Lindsay 80), Paul George (Jack Kerwan 84); Islam Feruz, William Ankarhake (Denny Johnstone 66)
SUBS Ross Madden, Jordan Moffat, Stuart Findlay, Leonardo Fazan
South American cheating reaches new depths
Follow Video Celts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
[bet_365 type=’generic’ size=’468′ af_code=’365_050711′]