Karamoko Dembele got on the scoresheet once again as the Celtic development team overcame Huddersfield Town down in England this afternoon.
Both clubs’ social media accounts for their respective academies were covering the game. The challenge match took place down at PPG Canalside in Huddersfield, as the young Celts again showed their class.
Dembele opened the scoring after only 18 minutes when he slotted home from a Burt cross that was cleared into his path.
Kieran McGrath would then add to the two goals he scored against Clyde in the City of Glasgow Cup seven days ago. Collecting a misplaced pass, the striker would find the bottom corner for another morale-boosting goal for him. His own confidence levels must be sky-high at the moment.
It took a penalty for Huddersfield to get back into the game midway through the second half, but they didn’t stay in the game for long. With 14 minutes remaining, Cameron Harper sealed things when he turned and finished Ewan Henderson’s cross.
Youths continue to bolster their reputation
Credit to the young Celts here. Every time they play against English opposition there’s an added incentive, and that’s now twice in the last couple of weeks that they’ve got the job done against decent English sides. Their win against Huddersfield follows a 1-0 victory away to Chelsea earlier on this month (YouTube).
It was also notable to see two youngsters make their first appearances since their loan spells ended. Henderson was the obvious one after his Ross County loan was cut short. However, Daniel Church also started at left-back after his time with East Fife came to an end (Fife Today).
Celtic will hopefully post the highlights of this one later in the week on YouTube, but it seemed as though this could’ve ended with a more comfortable scoreline for the Hoops.
Going by the Celtic Academy’s Twitter page, Barry Coffey struck the post, whilst the Huddersfield goalkeeper denied him, Henderson and McGrath. Burt, meanwhile, had a close strike whistle past the post.
It continues the feel-good factor that seems to be buzzing around the development squad at the moment. Even more impressive was the fact that this victory was secured without the services of Jonathan Afolabi and Lee O’Connor, both of whom are out on loan.
However, with Dembele and McGrath in particular back on the scoresheet, fans are sure to be buzzing about their continued development.
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