Johnston on target with a hat-trick

Celtic’s u-17 side maintained their 100% start to the season with a 6-0 win over Fife Elite Academy at Lennoxtown today.

Michael Johnston did much more than score a hat-trick while Broque Watson, Dan McAllister and Kerr McInroy were also on target.

Playing the advanced midfield role to perfection Johnston was at the heart of most Celtic moves with the Fife outfit struggling to pick up or contain the 16-year-old.

When Jack Aitchison was replaced in the second half Johnston moved to the striking role and completed his hat-trick in the 87th minute despite earlier being denied by the woodwork and having a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside.

Celtic took the lead in the 14th minute when a short corner on the left fed the ball to Johnston on the edge of the penalty box with his shot taking a deflection before finding the net.

Five minutes from the interval Celtic doubled their lead from the penalty spot when Johnston netted after being chopped down one on one with the goalkeeper. Strangely the referee felt that a yellow card was the correct punishment despite an obvious goalscoring chance being denied.

Watson hit the woodwork in the 59th minute but McInroy put Celtic three up two minutes later when he got on the end on a low drive from Watson after Johnston had opened up the Fife defence.

McAllister wasted no time making an impact after coming off the bench, netting from close range from a deep cross by Dan Church.

With ten minutes left to play Watson got on the scoresheet with a tap in after a shot from Johnston hit the post and with three minutes remaining he finally got to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

Celtic: Ross Doolan (Aidan McAdams 75); Stephen Welsh, Wallace Duffy, Blair Kidd, Dan Church (Grant Thorburn 75); Lewis Bell, Ewan Henderson; Broque Watson, Michael Johnston, Kerr McInroy; Jack Aitchison (Dan McAllister)