Celtic lost further ground to Hibs in the SPFL u-20 league after losing 2-1 to Hearts at Newtongrange.
Substitute Joe Thomson gave the hoops hope of salvaging a point when he scored with six minutes left to play but there was to be no last gasp equaliser.
The only consolation on the night was that leaders Hibs drew 1-1 with Hamilton meaning that Celtic are four points behind with two games in hand but after back-to-back defeats to the two Edinburgh sides the hoops have their work cut out to win their four remaining matches.
Sevco are four points behind Celtic with two games in hand but have to play the hoops at Lennoxtown on May 6 meaning that Celtic are still in control of the title race.
Celtic were on familiar lines with the return of Holmbert Fridjonsson from injury in place of Paul McMullan the only change from the side that lost to Hibs last week.
Liam Henderson had Celtic’s first effort on goal in the 13th minute when he sent a 25 yard free kick inches the bar but three minutes later the hoops really should have taken the lead.
Calum Waters played a perfect ball through the home defence to Denny Johnstone but with time to pick his shot he shot weakly past the post from 15 yards out.
After a flurry of pressure around their goal Hearts played their way into the match and took the lead in the 33rd minute. A slip by Eoghan O’Connell on the touchline allowed Oliver to race in at goal, when his shot was blocked it broke to Jamie Walker who drilled a low 15 yard shot past Leo Fasan into the net.
Two minutes from the interval Hearts could have doubled their lead but after hitting the bye-line Walker found no takers for his cut-back.
Paul McMullan replaced Jamie Lindsay ten minutes into the second half but after a brief spell of pressure Celtic fell two behind midway through the second period.
There seemed little danger when the ball broke to Walker wide on the left but the striker unleashed an unstoppable shot that exploded past Fasan into the net.
Fifteen minutes from the end Johnstone made good ground to race through on goal but hesitated for a moment allowing a Hearts defender back to intercept.
Thomson flashed a bullet header into the Hearts net with six minutes left to play from a perfect cross sent in by substitute Kieran Tierney but there was no further scoring as Hearts held out for three points.
CELTIC:Â Fasan; Herron, O’Connell, Fraser, Waters; Henderson, McManus, Lindsay, P. Twardzik; Fridjonsson, Johnstone.
SUBS:Â Kelleher, Tierney, Thomson, Hendry, McMullan, Donnelly, Hart