YOUNG TERRORS BASK IN GLASGOW SUNSHINE

The Young Terrors rampant start to the new season continued in fine fashion in the East End of Glasgow as they ran out comfortable 2-0 winners against Celtic at a sun-drenched Barrowfield Training Centre.

A Fin Malcolm penalty in the opening 45 minutes had the Under-18s in control against the ten men of Celtic, with Jacob Comerford netting his second goal in as many matches to ensure the three points in a game that the youngsters could've, and should've, won by more.

Ryan Moon made two changes to the side that was victorious at Rugby Park last week, as the injured Stuart Heenan dropped out for last week’s hero Rory MacLeod, as well as Malcolm taking Dom Naglik’s place upfront.

The United boss tweaked his system slightly to adjust to the personnel changes, deploying a 4-2-3-1 which was mirrored by their opponents. United enjoyed early forays forward through the use of the channels, Kerr Smith and Comerford firing the ball out to both full-backs who looked to deliver into the area at the earliest possible opportunity.

Sitting midfielder Craig Moore also dropped deep between the centre-half’s to spray passes to the wider regions. When possession was lost, the Young Terrors hunted in packs to win the ball high up the park, suffocating Celtic’s build-up play and forcing them into speculative long lobs forward, a trademark of Moon’s side.

The match sparked into life 25 minutes in after a quiet start from both sides, as the referee, after a long consultation with his linesman, pointed to the spot. Evan Easton was sent for an early bath for a violent, off-the-ball kick on Malcolm after the two challenged for a loose through ball. Malcolm dusted himself off and dispatched the penalty with confidence, whipping the ball low to the keeper’s right to put the Young Terrors ahead.

United kicked on from going in front and began to probe their ten-man opponents for a second. Arron Donald dragged a low cross into the feet of Malcolm who pined his defender, before setting up Bisland just inside the box. The defender steered the ball towards the bottom corner, Celtic stopper Kai McLean with a relatively comfortable save.

Bryan Mwangi found space in a similar area as Donald wide on the left, delivering a deep delivery towards the back post for MacLeod, who miscued his volley, sending the shot spinning over the hosts’ crossbar.

Soon after, Mwangi was again involved in a United sighting of goal, teeing up Lewis O’Donnell after the midfielder had bundled his way through a ruck of hoops, his shot straight down the throat of McLean between the sticks.

The home side’s first venture forward took until the 39th minute, displaying the solidarity of the tangerine rear-guard. Celtic winger Ben Doak threaded a perfectly weighted pass in behind Comerford for Dobbie to latch on to, however, 15-year-old Jamie McCabe reacted quickly to smother the striker’s effort and maintain United’s lead.

After the break, United’s intent to go for the jugular was clear and again found joy out wide. A Bisland cross almost found Malcolm in the box who attempted the spectacular unsuccessfully, before the full-back was again released into the right channel by an exquisite dummy from MacLeod. Bisland delivered low across the front post towards the onrushing Mwangi, the mercurial winger unable to divert his effort on target under pressure from two Celtic defenders.

Moon’s men were now in firm control of the game, building well from defence through the aforementioned partnership of Kerr and Comerford who looked to break the lines to Miller Thompson or MacLeod, positioning themselves in the hole behind the hosts’ midfield.

After a quarter of an hour of sustained pressure, United finally got a deserved second to kill the match. O’Donnell picked up the pieces of the second phase of a corner and drove into the area, riding the challenge of Celtic skipper Deane before drilling the ball low into the six-yard box, which deflected off Comerford between two despairing Celtic defenders and into the net as the centre-half became United’s unlikely hero for the second week running.

Celtic hit back with a half chance with just under 20 minutes to play, Bonnar racing in behind Bisland to fire an effort over the stanchion from the left edge of the box.

The Young Terrors went in search of more glory in the closing stages of the match, substitute Heenan going close with a free header just in front of the penalty spot after being picked out by a wicked O’Donnell delivery from a wide free-kick.

United continued their high press despite the victory being secured and almost took advantage of a McLean mistake with 15 minutes remaining after the keeper picked out Bisland with his pass rather than his own left-back. The number two rampaged forward and picked out Moore in the middle who headed wide.

McCabe ensured United headed back to Tayside with both the three points and a clean sheet with two quick-fire stops as Celtic threw bodies forward in desperation. Sule found himself clean through on goal as the flag stayed down, McCabe expertly tipping his goal-bound effort round the post. From the resulting corner, a stramash led to Cummings being presented with a close-range opportunity, the keeper again producing a fine right-footed save.

All in all, a comfortable afternoon for the Young Terrors who made it three wins from three matches and maintained their flying start to the 2021/22 season under new gaffer Moon.

"I wanted to add goals to my game this season," said Comerford. "Last year I can't remember if I even had a notable shot, let alone a goal, so I'm delighted to already have a couple in the first few games of the season.

"I'm quite surprised they've come as quickly as they have but I'm not complaining. End of the day though I'm not going to score unless the delivery is there, last week Rory put a perfect ball in from the free-kick and today Lewis has set me up perfectly that I couldn't miss from a couple of yards out.

"As a defender, it's great to get that first clean sheet as well, that's our main priority. We were maybe a bit slack towards the end and Celtic got a couple of chances but Jamie's pulled off two or three great saves, and also one in the first half, so he deserves that today.

"We've had a great start to the season and we want to keep building on that. Last year we had a bad start to the campaign and I think that's what killed us, boys lose a bit of confidence and you're feeling nervous going into games.

"On the flip side of that when you're winning the next game can't come quick enough, so looking forward to Hearts next week and, hopefully, keep this winning run going."

Next up for the Young Terrors is a trip to the Oriam to take on Heart of Midlothian on September 3.

Starting XI: Jamie McCabe; Layton Bisland (sub Rhys Walker), Kerr Smith, Jacob Comerford, Aaron Donald; Craig Moore, Lewis O'Donnell; Rory MacLeod, Miller Thomson (sub Stuart Heenan), Bryan Mwangi, Fin Malcolm (sub Dominik Naglik)

Unused subs: Ruaridh Adams, Keir Bertie, Nairn Lowe, Rhys Walker