Celtic lost their 100% record in the Development League but there was plenty to take from tonight’s 1-1 draw with Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park.
Brazilian striker Alex D’acol gave the home side an early lead but after the break Celtic stormed back into the match and could have taken all three points after Calvin Miller had equalised.
After a five match winning start to the domestic campaign Tommy McIntyre’s squad can now look forward to the challenges of the Premier League International Cup and the u-19 Champions League.
With Benfica and HJK Helsinki coming up in the next nine days McIntyre fielded virtually an u-19 side with Calum Waters drafted back from his loan at Dumbarton to replace Kieran Tierney.
Joe Thomson headed narrowly over the bar in the third minute but it was the home side that opened the scoring seven minute later when D’acol created space for himself eight yards from goal to angle a header past Colin McCabe from a Lois Longridge cross.
Accies enjoyed a short spell of pressure after the goal before Celtic began to assert themselves and push forwards.
Despite seeing more possession Celtic were restricted to a few long range efforts at goal with Martin Canning marshalling his defence to restrict Miller to chasing after scraps.
Three minutes into the second half Joe Thomson saw a stinging free kick from 22 yards crash into the defensive wall, a couple of minutes later Fiacre Kelleher executed a perfect tackle on the edge of the box as D’acol was about to shoot at goal.
On the hour Innes Murray replaced Sam Wardrop with Jack Breslin moving to right back as Celtic pushed for an equaliser with Water forcing Alan Martin into a good save at the cost of a corner
In the 66th minute Celtic scored the goal that they had threatened. Thomson’s free kick from the left was headed down by Jamie McCart to Miller who made no mistake beating Martin from close range…
CELTIC: McCabe, Wardrop, Waters, McCart, Kelleher, Breslin, Hendry, Hill, Miller, Thomson, McIlduff
SUBS:Doohan, Higgins, Murray, Payne, Johnston, Archibald, Kidd
