Celtic’s development side battled their way to a hard fought 3-2 winover Partick Thistle at Cappielow tonight.
Paul McMullan and Fiacre Kelleher put Celtic two up before Thistle pulled a goal back before the interval. Liam Henderson then restored Celtic’s two goal advantage but Jordan Leydon scored for Thistle just past the hour mark with the Jags chasing an equaliser through to the final whistle.
It was a eagerly fought battle in the most part but for the hour that he was on the park Henderson led by example pushing forward in support of McMullan and dominating the midfield.
On the comeback trail Darnell Fisher had a quiet time of it in the first half before being replaced by Sam Wardrop.
With the rain coming down as the match kicked off Cappielow provided the perfect surface for both teams to ping passes around with Henderson asserting his presence on the match from the first whistle.
At every opportunity the 18-year-old was demanding the ball and pushing forward in support of McMullan who looked in the mood playing as sole striker.
The hoops took the lead after 16 minutes with a great opportunist strike from McMullan. The striker raced onto a slack pass-back from Matthew McNally then confidently rounded goalkeeper Scott Basalaj before running the ball into the net.
There were a few chances at either end before Celtic doubled their lead four minutes from the interval. Henderson earned a free-kick on the right then flighted in a perfect cross for Kelleher to head powerfully into the net from 8 yards out.
That goal could have knocked the confidence out of the Thistle side but almost straight from the restart they pulled a goal back when Declan McDaid fired a crisp low shot beyond Leo Fasan from the edge of the penalty box.
Four minutes into the second half Celtic restored their two goal lead and while there was a bit of fortune about it as Henderson showed his striking instinct to the full when he redirected a mishit free kick from Twardzik low into the net beyond Basalaj.
Celtic had a number of chances to increase their lead but paid the price in the 61st minute when Jordan Leyden shot home from 15 yards after the ball bobbled around in the penalty box.
CELTIC: Leo Fasan, Darnell Fisher (Sam Wardrop 46), Stuart Findlay, Fiacre Kelleher, Calum Waters: Jamie Lindsay, Connor McManus, Liam Henbderson (Regan Hendry 59), Filip Twardzik, Kieran Tierney (Calvin Miller  66)Paul McMullan
SUBS: Jordan Hart, Â Jamie McCart, Jack Breslin, Mark Hill