Reserve Cup
Matchday One
Monday, August 26, 2019
Dens Park, Dundee

DUNDEE…2
(Curran 55, Mulligan 57)

CELTIC…4
(Aitchison 51, Griffiths 53pen, Burt 65, Oko-Flex 78)

CELTIC kicked off their Reserve Cup campaign with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Dundee at Dens Park on matchday one of the competition. All the goals came in an eventful second-half, with Tommy McIntyre’s side ultimately showing their superior quality to secure the win.

Leigh Griffiths was in the side as he looked to build up some valuable game-time, and the striker almost gave Celtic the perfect start when he got a shot on target after just 60 seconds, but Calum Ferris in the Dundee goal produced a good save.

The Hoops were pressing forward in the early stages of the game, with Armstrong Oko-Flex coming close after 10 minutes, but, again, Ferris did well to deny the young Irish attacker.

Dundee’s first real chance of the game came on 15 minutes, but Craig Curran’s effort was deflected wide for a corner, and just minutes later, Hoops captain, Stephen Welsh, made a vital clearance inside the six-yard box as Andrew Nelson was ready to pounce.

Just before the half-hour mark, Oko-Flex came close with a header from a Connor McBride cross, and he was denied again moments later when his powerful shot was turned round the post by the goalkeeper.

Liam Hughes in the Celtic goal then came to his side’s rescue on 34 minutes when he saved a Callum Moore free-kick, while the last chance of the first-half fell to Griffiths, with his 30-yard free-kick well-saved by Ferris.

Just six minutes after the break, Celtic broke the deadlock. Oko-Flex rolled the ball into the path of Jack Aitchison, and from eight yards out the striker fired the ball home. Two minutes later, it was 2-0 to the Hoops.

Oko-Fles was brought down inside the area by Moore, and Griffiths stepped up to convert the spot-kick. At this point, Celtic were in control of the tie, but two goals in two minutes for the home side brought them level.

Curran slotted home from the edge of the six-yard box on 55 minutes, and two minutes later, Josh Mulligan headed home the equaliser.

The young Hoops side held their nerve, however, and on 65 minutes they restored their lead. The impressive Oko-Flex was once again involved, surging forward from 40 yards out before slipping the ball to Liam Burt to finish.

Five minutes later, Hughes prevented Lyall Cameron from equalising, before Celtic made it 4-2. Oko-Flex dribbled into the box, and although he went down under a challenge, he still managed to stab the ball into the net with the aid of a deflection. It completed the scoring in what was a thrilling Reserve Cup tie, one that Celtic ultimately deserved to win.

CELTIC: Hughes, McBride, Miller, Church, Welsh, Coffey, Burt (Paterson 84), Robertson, Griffiths (Harper 60), Aitchison, Oko-Flex.
Subs: Mullen, McGrath, Mackay,

Celts edge six-goal thriller against Dundee in Reserve Cup clash