Michael Johnston and Aidan Nesbitt turned on the style at Hampden last night as Celtic crushed Sevco 3-0 to lift the SFA Youth Cup.
Just like Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final it was a one sided derby that took another step towards killing off the fabled ‘Old Firm’ rivalry.
There was no rivalry- just one team handing out a lesson to their opponents demonstrating the enormous gulf between the two sides with Celtic utterly dominant in every area.
When two of the three goals come from defenders it gives an indication of the domination enjoyed by the young Celts.
For Johnston it was his first taste of the SFA Youth Cup but indicated how much he has developed over the last twelve months making the huge step up from u-17 to u-20 football.
His skills and trickery haven’t been curbed but he’s added a physicality to his game that means he won’t be brushed aside allowing him to maximise his natural talent.
Nesbitt notched a hat-trick in the 5-2 win over the same opponents in 2015- last night he was just as influential without putting the ball in the net.
Playing in the centre behind Jack Aitchison he popped up in all the awkward spots that opponents don’t like and last night they couldn’t handle.
There were some crude challenges from the opening minutes but Celtic refused to be put off creating a number of early chances.
It took until seven minutes from half-time to make the breakthrough but sweeper Sam Wardrop made no mistake when a move from the left broke to him in the box as he drive a low shot across Robby McCrory into the net.
Just before half time it was comic cut time in the Sevco defence as the McCrorie Twins Robbie and Ross fluffed their lines under pressure from Calvin Miller who rolled the ball into the net from 15 yards out.
Aidan McIlduff completed the scoring in the 52nd minute when he finished off a good move down the left with a fierce drive that McCrorie parried but couldn’t keep out of the net.
YOUTH CUP | Highlights of the Youth Cup Final as @celticfc win 3-0 #CELRAN pic.twitter.com/R1p56SmwNJ
— Scottish FA (@ScottishFA) 26 April 2017
It was exhibition stuff from the Celts for the remainder of the match as they demonstrated a clear gulf in fitness and ability.
While the first team eased off in the latter stages on Sunday the young hoops kept on the front foot to leave their opponents demoralised and praying for the final whistle.
As Wardrop was presented with the trophy thoughts turn to the final two league matches with Celtic hoping that a win for Hamilton at Ross County on Monday coupled with a hoops win over Kilmarnock can set up a title decider at New Douglas Park.
In their two league matches with Sevco Celtic won 4-0 and 1-0 which made last night’s winning margin fairly predictable even though Regan Hendry, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 win a fortnight earlier had to settle for a place on the Celtic bench.
CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Hazard; Ralston, Wardrop, Kerr, McIlduff; Hill (Hendry 84), Thomson (McInroy 78); Johnson, Nesbitt, Miller; Aitchison (Archibald 76)
Not Used: Doohan, Crossan, Duffy, Watson
