Royston Celtic Greens 0 BSCFC Athletic 0 Under-12s Division Four CELTIC Greens had a full squad for this important match against Athletic who at the start of play sat five points behind in the Division Four table but with three games in hand. The first th

Royston Celtic Greens 0 BSCFC Athletic 0

Under-12s Division Four

CELTIC Greens had a full squad for this important match against Athletic who at the start of play sat five points behind in the Division Four table but with three games in hand.

The first three minutes was spent in the Celtic half as Athletic put in a series of attacks down the left flank though the defence held up well during this period.

Celtic then mounted their own attack down the right flank where Thomas McGlynn was putting in some good work and the game began to ebb and flow with both sides creating chances.

Midfielder Robbie Filby had another good match doing good work both in defence and attack as in the 13th minute when he started an attack down the left flank.

Brandon Hargreaves who was working hard down the same flank took it on and ran at the defence before putting in a good shot narrowly over the top.

Athletic came back strongly winning a free kick and then looked almost to have broken through the Celtic defence but last man Tom McGee, in commanding form, stood up well and snuffed out the danger and he was sorely missed when injured in just the third minute of the second half.

Ollie Green then went on a great run down the left but was crowded out just before he and strike partner Ian Kuenzi, who showed some good touches on the ball, were given a break with a change of strike force.

Both came back later in the second half having benefitted from the rest.

The last three minutes of the first half were similar to the first three with Athletic keeping play in the Celtic half but also being faced with some good defending including from midfielder Matthew Foley.

It wasn't long into the second half before Ryan Judge flung himself full length to push a fierce shot from the right round the post for a corner.

This was his most spectacular save but he handled the ball well throughout the match and was positioned well to make a number of good saves.

Celtic then went on the attack and won a corner from which the ball flew across the goal but no-one could apply the finishing touch.

The new strike force of Danny Mynott, playing in an unfamiliar role, and Callum Goodall, who looked particularly lively, gave Athletic a lot to think about with their movement and chasing of long balls from defence and were close to breaking through on several occasions.

Meanwhile Charlie Edwards saved an almost certain Athletic goal when he chased back and made a tremendous tackle on an Athletic forward who had only the 'keeper to beat.

Jack Ison also did well preventing some dangerous breaks and Jordan Cooney broke up several potential attacks in the centre before they got properly started.

Faheem Jeewoth came on in the 50th minute to ply his trade down the right and Celtic won a free kick in the 50th minute which unfortunately came to nothing.

In the last 10 minutes Celtic really rode their luck with Athletic piling on the pressure.

Despite the sterling efforts of Ethan Lewis who made some crunching tackles and provided defensive cover across the field, Athletic created five good chances from which they should have scored but failed to hit the target and it was with great relief that Celtic supporters heard the final whistle.

Manager Wayne Hargreaves thought Celtic battled well in a tight match and that both sides created chances that might have won the game.

Team: Judge, Lewis, Cooney, McGee, Edwards, McGlynn, Filby, Foley, Hargreaves, Kuenzi, Green. Subs: Mynott, Ison, Jeewoth, Goodall.