Source: Team_Talk
Bhoys reserves claim SPL title
A wonderful volley from Simon Ferry in the 70th minute separated the sides in a game in which Irishman Paddy McCourt stood out for the visitors.[LNB]Rangers midfielder Steven Lennon cracked a shot off the post with five minutes remaining but the Parkhead side were clearly the better team.[LNB]To compound a miserable day, Light Blues midfielder Steven Naismith limped off just after the break following a challenge from Celtic defender Jason Marr.[LNB]Several thousand fans made their way to Ibrox to see a sprinkling of big names such as Allan McGregor, Andy Webster, Naismith and John Fleck appear for the home side while Italian midfielder Massimo Donati, Niall McGinn and McCourt were playing for the Hoops.[LNB]Celtic had early efforts from defender Milan Misun, a header which went over the crossbar, and a drive from Ryan Conroy which McGregor dived to his left to save.[LNB]In the 12th minute Celtic goalkeeper Mark Brown sped from his goal to foil Ibrox lone-striker Isa Bagci, who had latched on to a Naismith through-ball.[LNB]Thereafter most of the action took place in the stands and stewards and police had to go in and remove some supporters from both sides as things threatened to get nasty.[LNB]Lennon flashed a shot over Brown's bar from the edge of the box while McCourt had a couple of efforts at the other end which failed to really trouble McGregor.[LNB]In the 36th minute Donati had a decent chance from Conroy's pass but his side-footed drive from 16 yards was easily saved by McGregor.[LNB]The high-profile Rangers goalkeeper, who was taunted mercilessly by the visiting fans all afternoon, was less comfortable soon after from Conroy's corner, flapping the first time then flailing to get the ball away.[LNB]Seconds later, Misun had a close-range strike blocked by sheer numbers inside the Rangers six-yard box.[LNB]With Celtic finishing the first period stronger, Marr came close with a shot from distance but the game remained goalless at the interval.[LNB]Some nice skills from McCourt at the start of the second half confirmed his status as the best man on the park but it was Ferry's volley from Conroy's deep cross which was the highlight of the game.[LNB]The Celtic midfielder steadied himself as the ball came floating over and he clinically drove past McGregor and into the far corner.[LNB]A rare mistake by the Hoops defence in the 85th minute allowed Lennon to go through on goal but he could only strike the post.[LNB][LNB]
