Hibs Under-18s continue unbeaten start to season with consecutive draws

Hibs Under-18s have continued their unbeaten start to the season, posting draws against Celtic and Hamilton Accies.

Connor Young has scored in each one of Hibs Under-18s' games so far

The wee Hibees went into last Tuesday’s game against the Hoops having scored a total of seven goals without reply in their first two matches.

Gareth Evans and Eddie May made one change with Ethan Laidlaw restored to the starting XI in place of Josh McCulloch.

Reece Holden and Jacob MacIntyre – younger brother of Oscar – joined the bench with Gregor Fordyce and Jack Furness missing out.

Connor Young, who scored a brace in the curtain-raiser against Dundee United and added another in the 3-0 defeat of Hearts, put Hibs in front from a free kick in the first half against Celtic and the teams went in at the interval with no further scoring.

The game came to life in the second 45 and although Young added another for Hibs from the penalty spot to take his tally to five for the campaign, the visitors scored two of their own in the second half to earn a share of the spoils.

Three days later Hibs travelled to Lanarkshire to face Hamilton, with the same team named by May and Evans.

The hosts enjoyed plenty of chances in an open first half with Murray Johnson saving from Jonny McPhee and Darren Rafferty but in a repeat of Tuesday night’s encounter Hibs were in front at the interval courtesy of a Connor Young goal, this time from the penalty spot.

That slice of good fortune was a shot in the arm for Hibs and they resumed the second period as they had finished the first, but were unable to find a second.

Johnson pulled off a fine save to deny defender Fergus Owens but the same player hit a leveller for Accies from a free kick moments later, and although Lennon Pirrie had a chance to win it for the home side he shot straight at Johnson and the match finished all square.

Hibs’ next Under-18 meeting is against Aberdeen at the Hibernian Training Centre on April 27 at 7pm.

Team: Murray Johnson; Jacob Blaney, Mack Weir, Murray Aiken, Oscar MacIntyre; Jayden Fairley, Robbie Hamilton, Josh Currie; Connor Young, Ethan Laidlaw, Josh O’Connor. Subs: Josh Blair, Innes Lawson, Freddie Wylie, Ben Reilly, Reece Holden, Brodie Watt, Jacob McIntyre.

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