17’s Beat Celtic Again

Rangers 2 Celtic 0

Rangers Under 17’s made it three wins and a draw in their four meetings with Celtic this season. Once Jack Thomson’s penalty had given Rangers a first half lead Celtic never really looked like turning the game around and Jordan Houston’s second-half strike made the points secure.

Celtic, coached by Michael O’Halloran senior, opted to field the one overage outfield player and an overage goalkeeper that the rules allow, Rangers fielded all under 17’s.

The early exchanges failed to produce any clear cut chances with some good defensive blocks and weak shooting meant neither keeper was troubled until almost half an hour had elapsed. Celtic creating the first real chance when Kieran Campbell’s throw in on the right allowed Michael Johnston to get to the byline on the right side of the box, he cut the ball back to Jack Aitchison and it took a superb Kieran Wright save low to his right to divert the ball over. Within minutes Rangers attacked on the right through Jordan Houston who passed to Stephen Kelly and his shot from the edge of the box forced a save from Conor Hazard low to his left.

Four minutes before the break Rangers took the lead from the penalty spot. Jason Krones sent Zak Rudden down the right who passed to Andy Dallas inside the box, when he tried to turn Stephen Welsh the defender came through the back of him for a clear penalty with Jack Thomson beating Conor Hazard low to his right from the spot. Two minutes later a corner from the right was cleared to the edge of the box and Kieran Balfour’s effort was just too high.

Half-Time:- Rangers 1 Celtic 0

Celtic threatened from an early corner in the second-half when Wallace Duffy rose to meet Michael Johnston’s delivery from the left but headed over. A few minutes later some close passing on the edge of the box teed up a shooting chance for Michael Johnston but again the effort was too high. 

As the hour mark approached the visitor’s threatened with an attack down the right, Shaun Bowers progressed in to the right side of the penalty area and his centre was poked goalwards by Michael Johnston to setup a scramble in front of goal that ended when Kieran Wright got his hands on the ball. Rangers then made the game safe with a second goal in the seventy-fifth minute. Stephen Kelly passed to Andy Dallas on the left, he laid the ball back to Kyle Bradley and although his cross into the box was behind Stephen Kelly he got a touch to help the ball on to Jordan Houston who cut inside Daniel Church before shooting across Conor Hazard into the far top corner.

Full-Time:- Rangers 2 Celtic 0

Rangers:- Kieran Wright; Jordan Houston, Jason Krones, Lewis Mayo, Kyle Bradley; Jack Thomson; Kieran Balfour (Mati Zata 62 mins), Liam Burt (Aidan Wilson 57 mins); Andy Dallas (Rhys Breen 84 mins), Zak Rudden, Stephen Kelly (Billy Gilmour 87mins)

Celtic:- Conor Hazard; Shaun Bowers, Stephen Welsh, Wallace Duffy, Daniel Church; Kieran Campbell (Ewan Henderson 84 mins), Lewis Bell (Ross McLaughlin 57 mins), Daniel Higgins, Kerr McInroy (Christian Antoniazzi 69 mins); Michael Johnston; Jack Aitchison.