Jack Aitchison continued his impressive season with a hat-trick against Hibs as Celtic’s u-17 side won 5-0 at Lennoxtown.
On Saturday the recently turned 16-year-old scored the goal against Switzerland that earned Scotland a place in the finals of the u-17 European Championships with tonight’s hat-trick taking his league tally for the season to 15.
Game by game Aitchison’s development has been obvious as he matches his natural ability with a game knowledge that belies his years. Like any true striker he thrives on one-on-one’s against a goalkeeper with the Hibs keeper losing out three times in those situations.
Despite a lively start from Hibs it was Celtic that struck first with Ross McLaughlin cutting down the right channel to take a great pass from Lewis Bell in his stride before drilling a low shot across the keeper into the net.
Just before half time Aitchison opened his account, taming a pass on his thigh just inside the penalty box before taking one more touch before firing home from 15 yards range.
With a heavy fixture schedule coming up before the Glasgow Cup Final on April 28 Celtic made full use of their squad with Euan Henderson, Kerr McInroy and Keiran Campbell all introduced during the second half.
Celtic retained control through most of the second half without creating too many chances but that changed in the last ten minutes.
As he picked himself up from one brutal challenge on the edge of the penalty box Aitchison latched onto a weak pass back, rounded the keeper then rolled the ball into the net in the 83rd minute.
Two minutes later it was a team-mates pass that he connected with before striking his shot past the Hibs keeper to complete his hat-trick.
In the final move of the match Aitchison became creator as he slid a ball through for McInroy who didn’t need a second invite before striking across the keeper into the net
CELTIC: McAdams; Bowers, Potter, Welsh, Church; Bell, Payne (Henderson 45); McLaughlin (McInroy 75), Johnston (Campbell 80), Watson (Antonazzi 75); Aitchison
League scorers so far (18 matches): Johnston 15, Aitchison 15, McLaughlin 7, Bell 5, Duffy 3, Watson 2, Campbell 2, Higgins 2, McAllister 2, McInroy 2, Antonazzi 1, Payne 1, Thorburn, Diver, Church, Potter, Barr
Glasgow Cup (6 matches): Johnston 7, Aitchison 5, Diver 1, Antonazzi 1, Campbell 1, Watson, Potter.
