Celtic’s u-19 side clinched the SPL title in style with a convincing 4-0 win over Motherwell at Bathgate.
From the moment that Greig Spence gave the visitors a second minute lead the result was never in doubt with the performance providing a 90 minute showcase for the season.
Despite losing top scorer James Keatings to injury a ready made replacement in the shape of Greig Spence has emerged with the former Alloa striker notching a hat-trick including one picked from the pocket of Curtis Jones who was making his first start of the season.
Tony Watt scored the other goal with a speculative shot/cross from the left that soared over the Motherwell keeper into the net with the former Airdrie striker happy to take the acclaim of his team-mates.
“I’m proud and happy,” coach Stevie Frail confirmed afterwards. “It was a tough end to the season with so many away games due to postponments.
“We knew that this stage was going to be tough but the players have been terrific. They are a great bunch to work with and I’m really proud of the way that they did perform. It’s hard to win any league but they showed today how good a team they are. Their passing and movement was good and the goals were excellent.
“Because of the amount of games that got called off they never developed any momentum until the last couple of weeks.”
There was barely two minutes on the clock when Spence opened the scoring. Anticipating where Watt’s header would fall Spence carried the ball into the net before chipping the ball over the Motherwell keeper who got a touch on the ball but couldn’t prevent it from ending in the back of the net.
With a firm grip of the midfield Celtic were firmly in control with Spence doubling the lead in the 21st minute when he turned quickly onto a Filip Twardzik pass to drill a low shot into the net.
Nine minutes later Watt got on the scoresheet when his cross come shot from the right sailed into the far corner of the net.
There was a decent crowd at Creamery Park for the 11am kick off with the Bathgate supporters well impressed by the crisp passing and intensity of Celtic’s play.
After the break Celtic continued to press forward with Spence claiming the slightest of touches from a net-bound shot from Jones.
“We know what Greig is- he’s a goalscorer,” Frail added. “When we lost James (Keatings) in the Hamilton game we were upset but Greig has came in and we’ve kept on scoring.
“When James was playing we wondered what would happen if he got injured but the answer is there if you look at the goals we’ve scored.
“Greig is claiming the fourth goal- whether or not it was going in or not he’s claiming it- that’s what strikers do and I’m not going to argue with him.
“I thought that Curtis (Jones) was immense. Obviously that’s good for next season and it was good to see him get a chance to play alongside Marcus Fraser at the end..
“It’s taken a very professional approach from everyone for every game and to finish the league in the manner they did makes me very proud.”
On Wednesday the focus turns to Hampden where Celtic face Rangers in the final of the SFA Youth Cup.
Kick off is at 7.30pm with a big crowd anticipated as Celtic attempt to complete back-to-back doubles.
CELTIC: Feely; O’Donnell, Jones, Toshney, Brennan; Irvine, Bagshaw, McGregor, F Twardzik; Watt, Spence
SUBS: Thomson, Gormley, Lowdon, Fraser (Toshney 71) , Atajic (F Twardzik 77), P Twardzik (Spence 62)
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