Celtic’s Development side dug in to earn their first win of the season with a battling 2-1 win over Dundee.
The hoops worked their way into a rather fortunate 2-0 lead through goals by Kieran Tierney and Paul McMullan but defended bravely as Dundee pushed for a point after being given hope when Craig Wighton netted 15 minutes from the end.
There was an exceptionally youthful look about the Celtic side with all of the outfield players eligible to play at u-19 level with the exception of Marcus Fraser and Jamie Lindsay.
Calvin Miller and Jamie McCart made their debut’s at this level with Calum Waters switched to right back and Jack Breslin pushed into central midfield. Tierney and Miller played on the flanks with Joe Thomson rotating central midfield roles with Breslin and Lindsay.
Against opponents who included Simon Ferry and David Clarkson it was invaluable experience for the Celtic kids and understandable that they took a little time to settle into the match.
Paul McMullan was having to scrap for everything in attack but just before the half hour mark he carved out two chances in quick succession with a McCart header and Marcus Fraser shot threatening the Dundee goal.
Four minutes from the break Celtic went ahead. McMullan raced down the right channel and after checking inside his flick goalwards was met by Tierney who bundled the ball past Scott Bain into the net.
The second half opened with almost constant pressure from the away side. In the 50th minute Wighton showed some great trickery down the right flank to create a chance for Martin Boyle but his shot whistled just wide of the post.
Six minutes later Boyle came even closer to scoring but his shot across Leo Fasan struck the inside of the post and bounced to safety.
Against the run of play Celtic went 2-0 up with their first venture into the Dundee penalty box of the second half. McMullan went haring down the left and after being sent tumbling in the box picked himself up to tuck the penalty kick into the net.
That goal seemed to deflate Dundee’s spirit but in the 74th minute Wighton pulled a goal back with a well placed glancing header beyond Fasan from 12 yards out.
Dundee threw everything at finding an equaliser but found the young Celts equally determined with an incredible tackle from McCart five minutes from the end highlighting the determination of Stevie Frail’s side not to drop two points.
CELTIC: Fasan; Waters, Fraser (c), McCart (Fiacre Kelleher 87), McIlduff; Miller (Anthony Ralston 83), Thomson, Breslin, Lindsay, Tierney (Hendry 68); McMullen
SUBS: Jordan Hart, DanHiggins, Rory Curry