DUFC

RESERVES LOSE OUT TO CELTIC

17th January 2006

As he was meeting the players for the first time, new Tangerines' boss Craig Brewster couldn't be at New Broomfield, but despite the defeat, he'll receive encouraging reports on the performance from coaches Tony Docherty and Stevie Campbell.

Because the youth squad are in Portugal, there were only twelve available players for this fixture. Although this was the first action the Reserves had seen for almost two months, they opened very positively, dominating the opening twenty-five minutes or so. Best chance of that period fell to David Robertson who almost capped a great run from midfield with a lob.

It was somewhat exasperating that Celtic opened the scoring after 30 minutes from a United attack. They broke down the left and a great Rocco Quinn finish from ten yards gave keeper Craig Samson no chance. Five minutes into the second half, Lee Miller equalised when he side-footed home a Barry Robson free-kick from 12-yards. Overall it was a game of few chances and at that stage, the game was very much in the balance.

Ten minutes later, unfortunately, inexperience at the back allowed Celtic, and Quinn specifically, to notch what proved to be the all-important next goal when he got in front of his marker to net from 8 yards.

Having already used their three subs, one of whom was Simon Ferry, Celtic were reduced to ten men when Ferry unfortunately had to be stretchered off during the last ten minutes.

And five minutes from the end, Derek McInnes went within a whisker of repeating his match-winning strike for the first team forty-eight hours earlier. Only an outstanding save by Scottish international keeper David Marshall kept out his effort after Lee Miller had played him in to deny the Tangerines the draw they deserved.

Final Result: Celtic Reserves 2 - Dundee United Reserves 1

United: Samson, Abbot (Cameron 50), Easton, McInnes, Kenneth, Gardiner, Burnett, Robertson, Miller, Goodwillie, Robertson. (No unused subs).