Queen's Park 17s Squad

Wednesday 17th March 2010

Queen's Park 1-2 Celtic

The 17s fresh from winning their league had another fine test in trying to win the old Glasgow Cup. This was going to be a tough night against a strong Celtic full of excellent young professionals.

The conditions again were excellent as the game kicked off but Queen's soon hit a whirl wind as Celtic forced the play for a good 10min.

The boys did well to weather the storm and got their own game going if only in patches. The game went back and forth with neither defence having much to deal with, an old midfield duel was happening.

Queen's discipline was first class and they stuck to the job in hand with only a couple of errors causing Grant Hay in goal a concern. Grant was ion top form matched all that was thrown his way and the half finished 0-0 with the Celtic goalkeeper making a fine save at the front post from a Kieran Blackwood shot late on in the half.

Into the second half a little change to shape and personnel Queen's started well enough and tried to get their passing game going. Celtic to their credit stuck to their task and denied the 17s the room, space or time to get in behind.

With 20min to play a poor kick and a rebound from the defence found the ball drop at the Celtic striker's feet 25yards out. He had time to control and lob over Grant, 1-0 to Celtic.

The 17s now had to push harder and with Celtic defending their slender lead Queen's peppered their box. It looked likely a set play was going to be Queen's best chance of an equaliser.

With this pressure though Queen's found the Celtic defenders had coped well with all the cross balls but one managed to escape them. An out swinging Owen Ronald corner with 12min to play, finding Grant McMillan to bullet a header from 8yards into the goal, 1 1.

Understandably Queen's had their tales up and you could see the boys get a boost of energy to go on and win the game. They nearly did after an excellent cross from Kieran McIntyre find its way to Jordan McGuire who volleyed first time only for the Celtic goalkeeper to tip over.

With only 3min to play this happened after another shot this time from Luke Whelan was blocked and the ball fell kindly to Celtic midfield to then play striker in 1 v1 on the counter, Grant McMillan looked to have done excellent in cutting the space and forcing the striker wide, a collusion took place with the striker falling in the box, the referee awarded a penalty. Celtic converted to go 2-1 up.

Queen's continued to try but could not create another opportunity to get the game to penalties and the game finished 2-1 to Celtic.

Coach Paul Ronald commented "Again these Queen's Park kids can take credit from their efforts against a super full time Celtic team. The neutrals would find it hard to tell which was which apart from the colour of the hoops".

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