honours even in battle of britain part 1

[kevin67]

HONOURS were shared in the first part of Wednesday’s Battle of Britain double-header as the reserve sides of Celtic and Manchester United played out a 0-0 draw.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United team dominated the first half and created a host of chances, but a young Celtic side bounced back after the break and probably had the better of the second period, although United could have nicked it.

In the end, both sides had to be content with the draw but the young Celts, having drawn 2-2 with a Tottenham Hotspur reserve side last month, will have taken a lot out of another testing 90 minutes against top-class opposition.

Willie McStay made five changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Hibernian on Monday. Mark Brown, Paul McGowan, Paul Caddis and Ben Hutchinson were all in the first-team squad, while Simon Ferry was rested.

In came Laurence Gaughan, Richie Towell, Graham Carey and Michael Tidser, while Celtic supporters also got a first glimpse of towering American goalkeeper Dom Cervi.

It was United who had the first effort on target. Danny Welbeck teed up striker partner Manucho and the Angolan striker’s low shot was saved by Cervi. Moments later, the same player stabbed a shot wide.

Manucho was looking the part for United and forced Cervi into another fine save after six minutes. Twisting and turning, he found space but the American parried the shot to safety.

United were enjoying the majority of possession and Magnus Eikrem floated a chip over the bar. Manucho then came close to converting a Welbeck cross.

Celtic were working hard to contain United but the visitors came close again. Welbeck swapped passes with Antonio Ryan and sent a volley towards the bottom corner. Cervi’s handling was immaculate.

In 25 minutes, the crossbar came to Celtic’s rescue. Danny Drinkwater’s free-kick deceived everyone and bounced off the woodwork. Cervi saved Manucho’s follow-up.

Celtic hadn’t been seen as an attacking force but Koki Mizuno came close in 30 minutes with a trademark free-kick. United No.1 Ron Zieler had to be at his best to divert the low shot wide.

Yet, United and Manucho remained a threat. The Angolan glanced a header inches wide, before Eikrem’s piledriver was held by Cervi.

Celtic enjoyed their best spell as half-time approached and Mizuno burst to life. He skipped past two challenges with sublime skill, but Zieler somehow saved his left-foot drive. Mark Millar’s long-range effort was also saved.

Mizuno’s bouncing free-kick caused problems for Zieler as the second-half kicked off, while Cawley was inches away from connecting with Marr’s cross. The Celtic striker then drilled a low drive wide.

Millar, taking Cawley’s pass and drifting into the box, almost fired Celtic ahead in 56 minutes, but Zieler managed to block. Moments later, Danny Lafferty’s goal-bound header was deflected wide.

Mizuno, partnering Cawley up front, looked in the mood for Celtic, with his pace and trickery causing problems for the United rearguard.

At the other end, Cervi was nowhere near as busy as he had been in the first half, but had midfielder Millar to thank for a magnificent saving tackle as Cameron Stewart bore down on goal.

Cawley threatened again in 73 minutes. Taking Mizuno’s intelligent lay-off, he slammed a first-time drive narrowly wide.

Celtic winger Graham Carey, who put in a great shift on his return from a lengthy injury absence, was replaced by Haydn Cochrane and moments later United passed up a golden chance – Tom Cleverley missing from six yards.

The same player had a chance to make amends in the closing stages. His point-blank header looked on its way in, but Cervi stood up well and made the save.