Despite going a goal down in the first minute, Queen's charged into a 3-1 lead only to be drawn back to 3-3 in the final minute of the game by a wonder strike by Celtic's Letsosa.
Coach Marijn Beuker picked a side that combined experience with youth for today’s Glasgow Cup match against Celtic B at Newlandsfield.
It was great to see Darren Lyon back in the team after a long layoff due to injury.
Also starting was Scott Williamson who will be joining us next season.
Queen’s could not have got off to a worse start when Dawson took advantage of a loose ball from Jacques Heraghty and lifted the ball over Jacques into the empty net.
In the seventh minute Ronan Darcy levelled the score with a superb strike from outside the box. Ronan nicked the ball off the Celtic full back , played a one-two with Scott Williamson and smashed the ball in to the net from 25 yards out.
That goal gave the young Queen’s side confidence, and they were now taking the game to Celtic, not giving them any time on the ball and preventing them from building up from the back.
After a couple of near misses Queen’s got a penalty in the 18th minute. Scott Williamson had a shot saved, Luis Longstaff picked up the rebound and was brought down inside the Celtic penalty box. Jack Thomson stepped up and drove the ball low to the keeper’s right to score.
Scott Williamson scored a third in the 37th minute when he ran onto a through ball from Jacques Heraghty and lifted it over the advancing Celtic keeper into the net.
Half-time: Queen’s Park 3 Celtic B 1
Darren Lyon was replaced at half time by Alex Bannon after a very successful 45 minutes.
Celtic started the second half like a whirlwind. Instead of building from the back they played longer balls and tried to get behind the young Queen’s side.
Despite being under pressure, Queen’s had a couple of chances early in the second half. The first blocked by the keeper and the second just out of reach of Ronan Darcy.
In the 55th minute Jacques Heraghty pulled off a fine save, diving to block a Dembele shot.
Four minutes later Dembele was upended inside the Queen’s box. He smashed the resultant penalty into the top corner to make the score 3-2 to Queen’s.
Queen’s freshened things up replacing Jack Thomson and Ronan Darcy, who had covered every blade of grass, with Charlie Fox and Gregor Nicol.
Later on Calum Biggar replaced Max Gillies and Under 18 centre forward Lucas McCormick replaced Luis Longstaff.
Celtic equalised in the 89th minute when Letsosa,16 yards out, hit a screamer into the far top corner of the net.
Full-time: Queen’s Park 3 Celtic B 3
Queen’s Park: Heraghty, Davidson, Bruce, Grant, Lyon, Gillies (Biggar), Thomson (Fox), Longstaff (McCormick), Williamson, Reid, Darcy (Nicol). Subs not used: McLeish, Russell
Celtic: Oluwayemi, Dede, Paterson, Murray, Corr (MacKenzie), Carse, Dembele, Summers, Dawson (Doak), Moffat (Letsosa), Brooks (Vata). Subs not used: Easton, Morrison, Ure.
The City of Glasgow Cup - Table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rangers Colts | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 10 |
| Queen’s Park | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| Celtic Colts | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Clyde | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 1 |
| Partick Thistle | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 0 |
The City of Glasgow Cup - Fixtures
Round 1 – November/December 2021
Clyde 1 Celtic 1
Rangers 3 Partick Thistle 0
Round 2 – January 2022
Partick Thistle 1 Queen’s Park 2
Celtic v Rangers – Postponed
Round 3 – February 2022
Rangers v Clyde – Postponed
Queen’s Park 3 Celtic 3
Round 4 – March 2022
Queen’s Park v Rangers
Partick Thistle v Clyde
Round 5 – March 2022
Celtic v Partick Thistle
Clyde v Queen’s Park
Semi-finals and Final – April/May 2022