Tom Rogic was on the scoresheet as Celtic’s development side beat Kilmarnock 3-2 at Rugby Park.
The scoreline barely reflected the balance of play with Celtic brave and forceful throughout the match to claim full points
Joe Thomson opened the scoring midway through the first half with Paul Cairney leveling before half time from the penalty spot.
Rogic restored Celtic’s lead before being substituted with Aidan Nesbitt putting Celtic further ahead before Rory McKenzie pulled a goal back with 10 minutes remaining.
There were three changes to the side that beat Hamilton 2-0 on Thursday with Jordan Hart, Sam Wardrop and Jamie Lindsay replacing Lucasz Zaluska. Darnell Fisher and Joe Chalmers.
Kilmarnock had the experienced Jamie Hamill and Cairney in their starting XI but it was the visitors that started the match on the offensive winning a series of early corners.
Home keeper Devlin Mackay had his angles well covered to block a Thomson effort in the 23rd minute after a great flowing move down the right but two minutes later the hoops took the lead with Thomson cracking a 25 yard shot high into the top corner of the net.
In the 33rd minute the homeside drew level when, under no real threat, Jamie McCart used his arm to block a cross from the right with Cairney converting from the penalty spot as the Celtic defender picked up a yellow card.
That set-back seemed to knock Celtic out of their stride with a few fouls on Aidan Nesbitt hampering the wingers stride.
Within a minute of the restart Thomson shot low and wide of the Killie goal but in the 51st minute Celtic were back in front when forceful play by Rogic ended with a powerful shot from 20 yards out that Mackay was unable to keep out.
Rogic departed 10 minutes later, replaced by Paul McMullan, but there was no let up in Celtic’s power play as they poured forward at every opportunity.
Kilmarnock had no answer as Celtic pushed through the centre as well as down the flanks with the third goal coming in the 75th minute when Jamie Lindsay threaded the ball through to Nesbitt who shot home from 15 yards out.
Despite dominating the second half Celtic were unable to find a fourth goal and although Rory McKenzie scored in the 80th minute Killie never looked like equalising.
CELTIC: Hart; Wardrop, Kelleher, McCart, Tierney (McGrath); Lindsay, McManus; Thomson, Rogic (McMullan), Nesbitt; Duffy
SUBS: McCabe, Chalmers, Findlay, Hay
