SFA Youth Cup: Aberdeen U19s 1-4 Celtic U19s

While Neil Lennon and his senior squad chase a historic treble, his young guns are planning to join in the fun with the league and cup well within their reach after a resounding 4-1 victory at Pittodrie.

It was a case of penalties in the North-east, with two going the way of Celtic while the Dons were denied what they felt was rightly theirs, but the league champions and holders were well worthy of their win.

Dundee United, St Mirren and Queen of the South stand in their way of a return to Hampden to defend the trophy they held aloft last year, but Celtic coach John Kennedy knows his side are performing on a different level just now, with goals hitting the net at one end, and a new found resilience at the other.

"We knew it was going to be tough coming up to Aberdeen," said Kennedy. "We found it tough coming up in the league, we knew what to expect.

 

Celtic have been able to hone their skills in the 'Next Gen Series', where they took to the European arena to face Barcelona, Manchester City and Marseille, and Kennedy admits it gave them an advantage over Aberdeen in front of a 600 strong Pittodrie support.

He said: "The Next Gen has been a great part of the season. It's helped them when they come to play in the stadiums because sometimes young boys get a bit of stage fright, but we're well used to it now.

"We've had six games in the Next Gen, all in stadia, so they're used to that. It was a case of turning up today, we knew Aberdeen would be coming out the traps at us and they did, but we got a foothold quickly in the game and obviously got an early goal which always helps you to settle."

The Polish goalkeeper had to be sharp to deny Callum McGregor as Aberdeen struggled to settle, with the Bhoys midfielder cutting inside three defenders on the right and firing a low shot. A minute later and the 'keeper again had to tip a free-kick over as Celtic searched for a second.

Watt should have made it 2-0 in the 16th minute after McGregor evaded a challenge from Michael Dunlop and set the former Airdrie man up, but Watt's turn and shot amounted to a sclaff and it crept wide of the post. Filip Twardzik did the same moments later when set free, with Aberdeen given a huge let-off.

The home supporters felt they should have had a penalty in the 20th minute though, with Curtis Jones clearly handling the ball, but the referee gave the free-kick the other way and penalised Declan McManus for pushing.

That spurred the Dons on and after 26 minutes of chasing lost causes Ryan Fraser finally received a good ball down the right and hit the byline. His low ball across goal was just out of reach for McManus but the Dons battled to keep it in play and Stephen O'Neil eventually hit a shot over.

A minute later and Cameron Smith saw a sight of goal and clipped a left footed shot just wide of Leonardo Fasan's right hand post.

The Dons always looked like they could shoot themselves in the foot though, and that came two minutes before half-time as Watt went down under a challenge in the box by Scott Rumsby. Filip Twardzik made no mistake with the penalty, cooly passing low into the net with the 'keeper going the wrong way.

The next goal was going to be crucial in dictating how the second half would pan out. Both sides came flying out of the blocks, but Celtic looked a touch more dangerous and Dunlop had to made a great challenge to deny Watt in the box.

Ryan Fraser was keeping the Hoops busy down the right hand side though but his delivery just couldn't find McManus in a dangerous position. However, what Fraser couldn't do, Conor Devaney could; finding McManus with a great ball in the 56th minute which the striker bulleted past Fasan.

There was controversy in the 58th minute when a poor passback put Dons 'keeper Lukasik in trouble. The Pole did brilliantly to race out and twice deny Dylan McGeouch then John Herron, but the latter felt he perhaps should have had a penalty.

Herron was eventually awarded a free-kick on the right, which he himself got onto the end of to head into the net from close range and restore Celtic's two goal cushion.

Both sides had wanted an early goal, and both sides had got it, but it left the visitors the happier of the two teams.

The Dons had a great chance to pull another one back in the 65th minute. Craig Duguid did well to win the ball from Patrik Twardzik, and set O'Neil free in the box, however as he attempted to cut inside his marker Jones was able to get the challenge in and deny him a clear shot at goal.

With a quarter of an hour to go, if Aberdeen could have found a breakthrough we still had a game on our hands, but they put paid to that when they again conceded a penalty, with Watt being tripped in the area. Once more Filip Twardzik stepped up and made no mistake.

It was harsh on the Dons who had played okay, and Fraser was unlucky not to cut the scoreline back to two goals when he fired over from a couple of yards out.

Neil Cooper's side to their credit were determined to restore some pride, and Devaney saw a good shot deflected wide, while great defending by Marcus Fraser denied McManus in the box.

It could have been 5-1 though with two minutes to go when McGregor played a great ball through to Watt but he poked it just wide.

The Dons will feel the penalties were pivotal in deciding the tie, but John Kennedy was confident his men fully deserved their passage into the semi-finals.

"I think it was [two penalties]," said Kennedy. "The first one was maybe a so-so, but the second one was a stonewaller. But I think even if you took away the two penalties we still did enough.

"We had a few chances we missed in the first half, and Tony Watt misses one through on goal in the second half, so I think overall we had a lot more chances than Aberdeen did. I think the team that deserved to go through did.

"Obviously we're in touching distance of Hampden which is pleasing. The boys are experienced at playing at Hampden and winning the cup before, and there's a real desperation to get back there because they really want to play on the big stage, that's where they all strive to be. At youth level that's as big as it gets."

Man of the match: Anthony Watt (Celtic) - will be frustrated at not netting more than once, but was a constant menace to Aberdeen's back line.

Aberdeen: Lukasik, Masson, Duguid, Devaney, Dunlop, Rumsby, Fraser, Murray, McManus, Smith, O'Neil.

Subs: Rogers, Carse, Gibbons, McMahon, Collins.

Celtic: Fasan, Fraser, Chalmers, F.Twardzik, Jones, Irvine, Herron, McGregor, Watt, McGeouch, P.Twardzik.

Subs: Kidd, Hart, Findlay, Alabi, Atajic.