Tuesday 7th November 2006 - SPL Youth (Under 19) League
Following on from their away draw with St. Mirren and then home defeat by Motherwell the Youths have only picked up 1 point in their last 3 matches, a statistic which gives Celtic a six point lead over them at the top of the table.
It could be argued that the match won by the tactical genius of the Hoops coach Willie McStay when he got the original match postponed in September when the Barrowfield side were struggling at the start of the season, and had just scrapped past the Pars at home, whilst Rangers were on the crest of a wave, and with Stevie Lennon in red hot form, jostling with surprise package Dundee United for top spot in the League.
That period of time allowed the new players to gel together better before they finally faced Rangers and their composure and ease at finding their team mates was the difference in the match.
Broadwood was a cold, damp, dreary, place at the 2pm kick off and the match failed to liven the atmosphere up as both teams seemed very lacklustre before the first goal was scored.
21 minutes into the match a long diagonal ball found Cillian Sheridan out on the left with, his marker Ross Perry, the big Celtic striker held Perry off as he made his way into the box and whilst under pressure from both Perry and the covering Furman still managed to rifle the ball high into the roof of the net from the edge of the 6 yard box.
Loy and Lennon were finding the going tough against the powerful Celtic defenders as they ploughed a lone furrow up front but it was midfielder Dean Furman who had Rangers first shot at goal on 29 minutes, a shot which went wide.
Even when Rory Loy did manage to get past Sean Anderson the ball cruelly bounced away from him and spun safely to Paul Skinner in the Hoops goal.
The first 45 minutes dragged by as Celtic controlled the midfield and their back line was solid whilst Rangers looked like they wanted to be somewhere else.
However, with the floodlights on for the second half play certainly brightened up and 2 minutes after the restart the ‘Gers were level when the ball was played in from the left along the visitors 6 yard line and as it evaded both forwards and defenders it ended up at the foot of the onrushing Furman who stroked the ball into the net with aplomb.
Clearly the half time team talk had an effect on the Murray Park starlets and Furman tried his luck a minute later with a dipping 25 yard shot which went inches wide.
On 55 minutes disaster struck when a long ball found Sheridan on the 18 yard line and as the Celtic dangerman turned Ross Perry the ball broke to Mark Millar who slammed the ball past Adam to put the visitors back in the lead.
Sheridan almost put the Hoops in easy street minutes later when he was played in by Paul Cahillane whose perfect pass found the striker in the clear in the 18 yard box but 15 year old Scottish Internationalist Grant Adam came to Rangers rescue with a brilliant save with his feet.
Rangers substitute Stephen Stirling was by now threatening the Celtic right back area with good runs down the left flank and on 62 minutes had 3 shots blocked from the edge of the area as the Celtic rear guard defended desperately.
2 minutes after that Nicky Gallagher found himself unmarked with a free header but put the ball straight into the arms of Skinner.
Andy Shinnie had a great chance to equalise on 76 minutes when a corner kick found the head of Gallagher again and this time the ‘Gers defender found Shinnie giving him a great opportunity only to lash the ball wide.
That was to be the final clear chance Rangers were to have with a shot at goal as Celtic then attempted to wrap the game up as Cillian Sheridan continued to be a thorn in the Rangers side as firstly his header was comfortably saved and then following a mix up between Perry and Gallagher the ball broke to the big forward to allow him a clear run in on goal but again young Adam spread himself to narrow the angle and Sheridan couldn't find the space to score as his shot went into the side netting.
The last action of the afternoon came on 86 minutes when Andrew Little got on the end of a long through ball but the substitute had let the ball run too far and the angle was easy for Skinner to cover as the Rangers forward tried his luck.
It was a miserable afternoon for the Rangers fans in the disappointing official attendance of only 83, the team now need to pick themselves up before the tricky away tie at Greenock Morton in the Youth Cup on Sunday 12th November.
The Teams;
Rangers – Adam, Lowing, Kinniburgh, Gallagher (Little 85), Perry, Emslie, Furman (Woods77), Shinnie, Loy, Lennon, Donald (Stirling 51).,
Subs not used – Weir, McLachlan, Van den Broek,
Celtic – Skinner, Caddis, Lafferty, Marr, Anderson, Hepburn, Carey, Millar, Sheridan, Cawley (Connell 75), Cahillane .
Subs not used - Fairley, McEwan, , Kiely, Graham, Ross, Foley