15’s Win At Lennoxtown

Celtic 1 Rangers 2

A dominant first half display laid the foundation for a deserved win for Rangers Under15’s at Lennoxtown tonight, in what was the first meeting in over two years between the clubs for the boys at this age group.

Rangers were first to threaten after only four minutes, Liam Burt allowed a throw in on the left side of Celtic’s penalty area to bounce before volleying just over the crossbar. The same time period had passed when from another throw in a similar position from Andy Dallas was collected by Liam Burt and his shot had Aidan McAdams diving to his right to turn the ball wide for a corner.

Just after the quarter-hour Kyle Bradley sent Sam Jamieson down the left, he left Dylan McKendry for dead and headed for the byline, his low ball across the six yard box was deflected goalwards but a Celtic defender headed clear from the line. As the half-hour approached Rangers took the lead from the penalty spot, Kieran Balfour and Jamie Barjonas combined in the centre of the park to feed Sam Jamieson, his shot from the edge of the box struck the arm of a Celtic defender and the referee a touch harshly awarded a penalty, Jamie Barjonas stepped up to send Aidan McAdams the wrong way from the spot.

As the half entered the final ten minutes Rangers came close from a free-kick just outside the left side of Celtic box, Jamie Barjonas touched the ball to Sam Jamieson and with the Celtic defence expecting him to tee up a shot for Jason Krones the Rangers striker swiveled to send a shot past Aidan McAdams but against the keeper’s left hand post. A minute later Grant Nelson laid the ball back to Liam Burt on the right side of the penalty area and his shot brought out another save from Aidan McAdams.

Rangers soon doubled their lead, when the Celtic defence cleared a set play from their penalty area Kieran Balfour hooked the ball back into the penalty area where Aidan Wilson sent a looping header over the keeper and into the net. In the final minute of the period Rangers could and probably should have scored a third, Grant Nelson’s through ball was missed by the Celtic centre backs and Sam Jamieson raced clear, he was forced wide as he rounded Aidan McAdams and a defender and the keeper combined to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Half-Time:- Celtic 0 Rangers 2

Celtic got back into the game just over five minutes after the break, a pass from midfield found full-back Sean Bowers breaking into the right side of the penalty area and he shot past Kieran Wright from a tight angle. Rangers came close to restoring their two goal advantage a few minutes later, from a free-kick just outside the left side of the box Jason Krones shot beat the keeper but crashed off the crossbar.

On the hour mark Liam Burt attacked the right side of the Celtic box and his shot was deflected to Sam Jamieson who fired into the net but the referee adjudged his was in a offside position. As the midpoint of the half approached Jamie Barjonas drove forward past a couple of defenders towards the byline on the left with Aidan McAdams diving to gather his low cross.

A minute later Sam Jamieson took on the centre of the Celtic defence and only a brave save at the feet of the Rangers striker by Aidan McAdams prevented a goal. Celtic replied five minutes later with an attack on the right with Kieran Wright getting down to save low to his right .

Rangers were soon back on the attack and when Zak Rudden passed in from the left to find Liam Burt, his shot brought out another save from Aidan McAdams low to his right and the keeper reacted quickly to beat Zak Rudden to the rebound. Another Jason Krones free-kick, this time from fully thirty yards troubled Aidan McAdams but the keeper managed to turn the ball over.

Celtic had a chance to snatch a draw deep into injury time, the attack came down the left and when the ball came into the penalty area the shot came off the inside of the post and rolled along the line, this set up another couple of efforts that the Rangers defence blocked before scrambling clear.

Full-Time:- Celtic 1 Rangers 2

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Aidan Wilson, Jason Krones, Robbie Smith, Kyle Bradley; Grant Nelson (Ben Andoh 65mins), Jamie Barjonas, Kieran Balfour, Andy Dallas (Zak Rudden 56mins); Liam Burt (Kieran Laing 77mins); Sam Jamieson.