Celtic took control of the SPL u-20 title race with a convincing 2-0 win over Sevco at Lennoxtown today.
The visitors just needed a point to claim their first ever title but their bus parking tactics were overcome by second half goals from Denny Johnstone and John Herron.
After some recent indifferent form, including two defeats to Hibs either side of a loss to Dunfermline at East End Park, the bhoys can now clinch the title by beating Dundee United at Tannadice on Thursday, kick-off 6pm.
The defeat at Lennoxtown capped a miserable day for the kids from the state-of-the-art Murray Park training academy who had learned this morning that team-mates Andy Little, Chris Hegarty and Ross Perry had picked up their P-45’s.
It’s believed that Accrington Stanley boss James Beattie is weighing up the prospect of offering Perry a one week trial with the Lancashire giants.
Johnstone replaced Holmbert Fridjonsson in the only change from the Celtic side that beat St Mirren last week with the hoops listing a very youthful bench due to seven players being on duty with Scotland’s u-17 side.
After a nervy start in which Leo Fasan was called upon to cut out a few dangerous crosses the hoops settled into their familiar passing game.
Paul McMullan and Filip Twardzik were causing the visitors most problems but there was to be no early breakthrough.
Just past the half hour mark Liam Henderson opened up the Sevco defence with a great pass to Johnstone but two retreating defenders managed to narrow the angle with the strikers’ shot slipping wide.
Celtic started the second half on the attack with a 25 yard shot from Jamie Lindsay slipping over the bar as the hoops chased the breakthrough goal.
In the 57th minute Celtic got the goal that their play deserved when Johnstone headed home a Filip Twardzik cross from the left  in off the post.
Seven minutes later the game- and hopefully the title- was put beyond Sevco when Herron shot past Liam Kelly after Paul McMullan hadsent in an inviting pass from the left following a great passing move.
All roads now lead to Tannadice on Thursday where an away win will give Celtic their fifth successive title.
CELTIC: Fasan; Herron, Kelleher, Fraser, Waters (P Twardzik 84); Lindsay, McManus, Henderson; McMullan, Johnstone, F. Twardzik
SUBS: Hart, Donnelly, McCart, Tierney, Hendry, Hill
SEVCO: Kelly; Pascazio, Halkett, Gasparotto, Sinnamon; Crawford, Hutton, Murdoch, Telfer (Stoney 79); Gallagher, Burrows (Dykes 46)
SUBS:Â Subs: Simonsen, Gibson, Ramsay, Roberts, Finnie