Match Report -
Celtic lose out to a talented Manchester United Under 23's side as we honoured Bert Whalley
By Taran Dhamrait

Celtic were beaten 5-1 by a talented Manchester United Under 23’s side at Bower Fold as we honoured former Celtic player and Manchester United coach Bert Whalley with the unveiling of a plaque.

Before the fixture, fans and players gathered along with members of Bert’s family and former England captain Bryan Robson to remember Herbert Whalley’s fantastic life and commitment to football.

After the ceremony, a busy Bower Fold saw six goals scored throughout the game with goals from Zidane Iqbal, Alejandro Garnacho, Noam Emeran a brace from Dillon Hoogewerf with Scott Bakkor netting Celtic’s goal during the second-half.

The visitors first goal came after 17 minutes. Manchester United’s left-back picked out Iqbal with a lovely cross, the forward turned and fired across goal into the bottom right corner.

Celtic’s Connor O’Grady unfortunately had to go off after an injury, he was replaced by Keano Deacon as the versatile Keenan Quansah moved to the right of Celtic’s defence.

Celtic defended well in the first half as Manchester United applied heavy pressure. Ioan Evans made two blocks before Grant Shenton was called into action on 35 minutes.

Hoogewerf crossed from the left and found Charlie McNeil, the striker couldn’t get a clean connection on the ball and Celtic’s keeper was able to intervene and punch the ball away from goal.

McNeil saw another shot from a Hoogewerf cross fall wide before Celtic saw an effort on goal through Deacon. The skilful forward found space 25 yards from goal, he took aim but saw his effort saved by Dermot Mee.

Shenton made a very smart save three minutes from the break, denying Hoogewerf when he was put through one on one with Celtic’s keeper.

The second-half saw United’s fitness and class shine through. Emeran saw a free-kick hit the crossbar and bounce off the line, Quansah was in the right position to block the rebound from McNeill.

Shenton continued to deny The Red Devils, he made a fantastic reaction save to deny Hoogewerf after the ball fell kindly to the forward inside the penalty area.

Hoogewerf did eventually beat Shenton. He exchanged a one two with McNeill and managed to squeeze the ball into the near post.

Hoogewerf added a third on 65 minutes before Celtic pulled one back through Bakkor. Stephen Brogan’s free-kick from the right-hand side of the penalty area cleared towards Bakkor, Celtic’s goalscorer took a touch before sending a powerful low strike through the crowd of defenders and past Manchester United’s keeper.

Garnacho and Emeran added a fourth and fifth inside the last ten minutes as Celtic saw the squad earn some more minutes ahead of the season start.


Celtic have another home game on Saturday 31st July with Marine the visitors (KO:15:00).

Attendance: 1018

Celtic’s line-up:

Shenton, Smith-Brown, Brogan, Evans, O’Grady, Barlow, Quansah, Wedgbury, Jack, Bakkor, Harris.

Subs: Deacon (’19), Nuttall, Burton (’61), Awe, Padden, Trialist, O’Halloran, M.Hughes.

1Mee, Dermot  > 61
2Wellens, Charlie  
3Fernandez, Alvaro  > 71
4McShane, Paul  > 61
5Hardley, Bjorn  
6McCann, Charlie  
7Emeran, Noam  > 71
8Savage, Charlie  
9McNeil, Charlie  
10Iqbal, Zidane  > 71
11Hoogewerf, Dillon  
12Jurado, Marc  < 71
13Vitek, Radek  < 61
14Garnacho, Alejandro  < 71
15Hansen-Arroen, Isak  < 71
16Pye, Logan  < 61