Celtic Reserves 3 Aberdeen Reserves 1
Sandy Clark decided to use the top-of-the-table clash sensibly by giving first-teamers Stevie Crawford and Andy Considine ninety minutes to aid their recovery from long-term injury.
Considine was solid in the centre of defence during a quiet first half, while Crawford was inexplicably playing in a deep floating midfield role. If this was designed to interrupt any attempts at free-flowing football by either side, it succeeded.
The traditional half-time snack in the Celtic Park main stand was interrupted by the appearance of a hair in my pie, which led me to think that they may have been made from Danny McGrain.
Thankfully the Celtic support was on hand to correct me, as was one chap when I asked who their No. 2 was. "I've no idea," came the reply from the knowledgable Tim.
The second half saw changes to the Aberdeen line-up, with Crawford thrown up front alongside Darren Mackie, and Dons reserves top scorer John 'Budgie' Stewart withdrawn to left midfield.
Considine was solid in the centre of defence during a quiet first half, while Crawford was inexplicably playing in a deep floating midfield role. If this was designed to interrupt any attempts at free-flowing football by either side, it succeeded.
The traditional half-time snack in the Celtic Park main stand was interrupted by the appearance of a hair in my pie, which led me to think that they may have been made from Danny McGrain.
Thankfully the Celtic support was on hand to correct me, as was one chap when I asked who their No. 2 was. "I've no idea," came the reply from the knowledgable Tim.
The second half saw changes to the Aberdeen line-up, with Crawford thrown up front alongside Darren Mackie, and Dons reserves top scorer John 'Budgie' Stewart withdrawn to left midfield.
There was little between the two teams at this point, with Celtic playing well down the flanks but Aberdeen having the best central midfielder on the park in Kyle Macaulay.
Unfortunately they also had the worst in Gary Dempsey, who sadly has all the traits of someone with little skill trying desperately too hard to impress and therefore being even worse than his limited talent permits.
Unfortunately they also had the worst in Gary Dempsey, who sadly has all the traits of someone with little skill trying desperately too hard to impress and therefore being even worse than his limited talent permits.
Despite the overall parity, Celtic took the lead on the hour mark when a long ball was played through to O'Brien, who beat the otherwise solid Dons offside trap and slotted the ball past Kelly.
This led to an exciting period of end-to-end play where either team could have scored, but instead Celtic did - twice.
This led to an exciting period of end-to-end play where either team could have scored, but instead Celtic did - twice.
Wallace chipped in from the edge of the box after a good piece of play, then the otherwise hopelessly ineffective Stephen Pearson was brought down in the box for Lawson to smash home via the underside of the crossbar from the penalty spot.
With eight minutes remaining, Aberdeen pulled one back when Mackie and Macaulay combined to set up Crawford whose shot from fifteen yards was deflected in.
The consolation goal in no way flattered the Dons' second string, who were not far removed from their Celtic counterparts. Stewart, Mackie and Macaulay in particular had very good games, while Gary Irvine of Celtic (the aforementioned No. 2) certainly looks like one to watch in the future, and was probably man of the match.
Aberdeen: Kelly, Donald, Foster, Skinner (McInnes 72), Considine, Thomas (Maguire 65), Macaulay, Crawford, Stewart, Dempsey, Mackie. Subs: Langfield, Neill, Thomson.
With eight minutes remaining, Aberdeen pulled one back when Mackie and Macaulay combined to set up Crawford whose shot from fifteen yards was deflected in.
The consolation goal in no way flattered the Dons' second string, who were not far removed from their Celtic counterparts. Stewart, Mackie and Macaulay in particular had very good games, while Gary Irvine of Celtic (the aforementioned No. 2) certainly looks like one to watch in the future, and was probably man of the match.
Aberdeen: Kelly, Donald, Foster, Skinner (McInnes 72), Considine, Thomas (Maguire 65), Macaulay, Crawford, Stewart, Dempsey, Mackie. Subs: Langfield, Neill, Thomson.