Celtic U19 2 - 2 Aston Villa U19: Fine fightback from young Celts

CELTIC salvaged a draw with a second-half fightback in last night’s Nextgen series match against Aston Villa at Firhill.

SCORERS:

Celtic U19 - Devine og (53), P Twardzik (72)

Aston Villa U19 - Graham (24), Drennan (40)

The result kept the young Celts in with a chance of making it to the knockout stage.

Two down at the break, Celtic got one back shortly afterwards when Daniel Devine scored an own goal. The equaliser came when Patrik Twardzik headed home.

The English visitors had got the breakthrough midway through the half with their first chance. A Brad Lewis cross from the left was headed in off the post by Jordan Graham. Celtic tried to counter but Joe Chalmers sent a free-kick curling over and Lewis Kidd also fired off target.

And, with half-time approaching, the Birmingham side scored again.

Scorer Graham crossed from the right side and another header, this time from Michael Drennan made it 2-0.

Celtic were not downhearted, though and they came out full of purpose after the half-time break.

Denny Johnstone won a quick corner with a deflected shot and and Bahrudin Atajic’s ball in was put over from close range by Stuart Findlay.

The hosts kept pressing and Chalmers puit a header over the bar.

That was a precursor to their first goal, though, which came when Twardzik cut inside and sent the ball towards Atajic. The unfortunate Devine headed into his own net while trying to prevent it reaching the Swedish striker.

Celtic: Daniels, Fisher, Fraser, Findlay, Chalmers, Lindsay, Irvine, Kidd, Johnstone (Kirwan 85), Atajic, Twardzik. Subs not used: Miller, Hart, McNally, McMullan, McManus, Henderson.

Aston Villa: Hill, Bateman, Devine, Watkins-Clark, Lewis; Graham, Ward, Lyden, Grealish, Carruthers (Barton 87), Drennan. Subs not used: Barrett, Crowley, Dempsey, Strain, Calder, Cowans.