Youths move to a point from title celebration

Celtic’s u-19 side are within touching distance of the league title after beating Hibs 2-0 today while Rangers lost 2-1 at Aberdeen.

Those results put Celtic twelve points ahead of Rangers who have four games left to play. The Ibrox kids haven’t won any of their last four games with Celtic now needing just a point from their two remaining matches, against Aberdeen and Hearts to put the title beyond reach.

Rangers play Hibs in midweek with anything less than a win conforming Celtic as champions.

James Keatings and Greig Spence were on target today as Celtic beat Hins with something to spare with the added bonus of James Forest returning to the team.

There was no sign of title nerves as Celtic took the game to Hibs straight from the kick-off with Spence sending a glancing header looping over the bar in the fifth minute following a great cut-back from Forest.

Celtic were dominating the game with the midfield trio of Darren McCauley, Callum Bagshaw and Keatings all interchaning and linking well with the strikers.

The goal that Celtic had been threatening duly arrived in the 28th minute and was another spectacular strike from Keatings.

Richie Towell’s throw in was returned by Sean Fitzharris to the full-back who slipped the ball to Keatings, after sidestepping one Hibs player Keatings powered an unstoppable 25 yard drive low beyond the Hibs keeper.

The goal was no more than Celtic deserved with Forest almost doubling the lead three minutes later but his 18 yard shot was blocked by the Hibs keeper.

Bagshaw, Forest and Spence all had chances to increase the lead before the break with the slick passing and movement carving open the Hibs defence.

Celtic picked things up quickly after the break with a one-two between Forest and Spence five minutes into the second half ending with the former Alloa striker being blocked off just as he was about to shoot.

Spence wasn’t to be denied however and scored for the seventh game running in the 58th minute when he found space at the back post to head home a Fitzharris from the left.

After going two goals up the pace dropped a little allowing Hibs to come more into the match but they rarely looked like getting back into the match.

There was still half an hour to play in the Aberdeen-Rangers game when the final whistle blew with the score tied at 1-1.

Aberdeen’s late winner means that Celtic can only be beaten on goal difference by Rangers- on today’s form the young hoops are worthy champions and will be looking to win the championship by as big a margin as possible.

CELTIC: Guardino; Towell, Hughes, D Gallagher, Lowden; Bagshaw, Keatings, McCauley, Fitzharris, Spence, Forest. SUBS F Twardzik (Forest) Kennedy, Jones, McGregor, Young, O’Donnell.