Young Reserve Side Draw With 'Tic

Last updated : 14 September 2005 By Stand Free Ed

Aberdeen fought back last night for a well earned draw against Celtic reserves at Links Park. The Dons reserves, who had the look of an under-19 team with only a couple of first-team regulars making an appearance, could even have stolen the win in the last minute as the Celtic team switched off.

Celtic fielded a strong side, with much press attention centring on their new Chinese signing Du Wei, who lined up alongside first-teamers Virgo, Varga, Agathe, Pearson, McGeady and Wallace. It was therefore no surprise that Celtic took the lead after 23 minutes through Gardyne and edged the first half with the majority of posession.

Aberdeen second string showed more endeavour in the second half, and deservedly equalised in the 85th minute when 16-year-old Chris Maguire took advantage of some indecision in the Hoops' defence. Scott Muirhead played a long ball forward and the teenage striker nipped in to beat the Celts' keeper from an acute angle. Maguire had a great game for the Dons, and almost snatched the winner when Gary Dempsey slipped him in, but the shot went just wide of the post.

Jimmy Calderwood has become quite a 'Tinker Man' this season so far, and the reserves' coaching staff didn't disappoint last night with Jamie Winter playing in an unfamiliar sweeper role. Kyle MacAuley, who featured for the Dons pre-season, had a good game in the centre of midfield and is, along with Maguire, certainly one to watch for in the future.

Aberdeen: Kelly, Foster, Muirhead, Winter, Considine, Thomas, McInnes (Bagshaw 70), MacAuley, Kiely (Thompson 84), Dempsey, Maguire.