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Celtic three points clear after victory over Accies

Celtic 4

Nesbitt 26', 44', Mackay-Steven 49', Wardrop 58'

Hamilton Academical 1

Reilly 33'
  • Monday, 04 January 2016
  • Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld.
  • Under 20´s
  • SPFL Development League

Martin McConnell | YFS South Lanarkshire Senior Reporter
Author's Bio | Articles by Author | [email protected]

A compelling 4-1 Celtic victory over title rivals Hamilton, saw the Bhoys go three points clear at the top of the SPFL Development League. Celtic were able to field a pretty strong line up that featured the likes of first team regulars Gary Mackay-Steven, Tyler Blackett and Scott Allan.

And consequently, Celtic dominated from the opening stages through to the final whistle. An early injury to Accies striker Ryan Tierney didn’t help the Lanarkshire’s sides cause any either. Celtic went ahead with an Aidan Nesbitt strike, before Ben Reilly equalised with a fantastic solo goal.

Nesbitt managed to put Celtic back in front just on the cusp of half time, and they never then looked like losing that lead from there on in. Mackay-Steven struck from the edge of the Hamilton penalty area for Celtic’s third, and Sam Wardrop sealed the win with a fourth just before the hour.

Celtic had the better of the opening stages, passing the ball about nicely in a style that the fans have now become accustomed too. Allan slid a great ball through two Accies defender’s for Aidan McIlduff, he shot from eight yards but was denied by an athletic diving save from Alan Martin.

Nesbitt had a fifteen yard strike blocked, then Martin saved again from a fantastic Mark Hill effort. The pressure paid off when the ball was played across the Hamilton eighteen yard line from wide. The ball was struck, Martin saved but couldn’t hold, and Nesbitt nipped in to put across the line, 1-0.

Then out of what seemed nowhere Accies defender Ben Reilly made a storming run up the right hand wing, cut inside and struck past Logan Bailly from fifteen yards for the equaliser, 1-1. Brazilian striker Alex D’Acol then struck inches over the cross bar from twenty two yards.

Allan showed a range of his skills after sending the ball into the penalty area from out on the left hand side. The delivery was cleared back out toward him, he cut inside and swept past three players before sending wide of the goal from twenty yards.

Then on the stroke of half time, Mackay-Steven curled the ball toward the Hamilton back post, Blackett got a touch on the ball, and Martin blocked. Someone else got a touch on the ball and sent goal ward, Nesbitt ran in and forced over the line for a half time lead, 2-1.

  • Half Time:
  • Celtic
  • 2-1
  • Hamilton Academical

Celtic won themselves an early corner, and Allan drove the ball hard across the Accies six yard box. Eoghan O’Connell, back from a loan spell with Oldham Athletic, steamed in and headed wide of the post, the pace of the ball probably taking him a bit by surprise.

Celtic’s third came, when Luke Donnelly slid a nice pass through for Aidan McIlduff. He ran toward the Hamilton goal and let loose, but his shot was scuffed and went across the goal mouth. Mackay-Steven was on hand to run in and blast into the net, 3-1.

Celtic moved the ball up the right hand side of the park before cutting it inside for Allan, he sent it wide for McIlduff who struck just wide of the back post. The fourth goal came when Mackay-Steven’s corner kick fell in front of goal, and Wardrop’s outstretched leg sent over the line, 4-1.

Steven Boyd went close from a thirty yard shot that flew past the Celtic post, then Accies defender Michael Devlin struck past the left hand post from thirty five yards. Wardrop then sent a great cross deep beyond the back post and straight to Nesbitt, he cut inside and shot wide from eight yards.

Celtic were awarded a free kick late on in the match, thirty yards from the Hamilton goal, Mackay-Steven struck but Martin saved comfortably. After a decent passage of play in which Accies retained the ball and pressurised the Celtic defence, Redmond shot wide from twenty five yards.

Celtic now have a chance to extend their lead at the top, when they face Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Cappielow on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Accies will hope to bounce back next week, when they face Falkirk at New Douglas Park.

  • Full Time:
  • Celtic
  • 4-1
  • Hamilton Academical

Lineups

Celtic
Hamilton Academical
1. Logan Bailly
2. Sam Wardrop
3. Aidan McIlduff
4. Tyler Blackett
5. Eoghan O’Connell
6. Mark Hill
7. Gary Mackay-Steven
8. Joe Thomson
9. Luke Donnelly
10. Scott Allan
11. Aidan Nesbitt
12. Jamie McCart
14. Fiacre Kelleher
15. Regan Hendry
16. Calvin Miller
17. McCabe
1. Alan Martin
2. Ben Reilly
3. Ronan Hughes
4. Michael Devlin
5. Shaun Want
6. Darren Lyon
7. Ross Cunningham
8. Danny Redmond
9. Alex D’Acol
10. Steven Boyd
11. Ryan Tierney
12. Conor Scullion
14. Scott Granger
15. Danny O’Halloran
16. Rico Quitongo
17. Steffen Connelly
19. Alex Marshall
Star Player
Celtic
Hamilton Academical
Scott Allan - Displayed a wide range of his passing skills, strong runs, set pieces, shooting and great first touch using any part of the body.
Shaun Want - Good calm defensive display, solid at back, good passing and tackling. Although defence lost four, they were all touch ins from very close range.
Magic Moment
Celtic
Hamilton Academical
Great bit of play on the edge of the Hamilton penalty area during the second half, when Scott Allan and Aidan Nesbitt combined well with great close control whilst being tightly marked.
Ben Reilly. Great individual goal that so him motor past the opposition and strike past the keeper from wide.
  • Match report and photos copyright Youth Football Scotland.
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