A very youthful Celtic Development side beat Airdrie 4-0 at Firhill to claim third place in the Arr Craib Cup.
Following the disappointment of losing 2-0 to Partick Thistle Stevie Frail’s side were much more impressive against the First Division side with the added bonus of seeing three of last season’s u-17 side make their debuts with Glenn Eadie celebrating with a goal.
Tony Watt was the pick of the Celtic players, putting in an outstanding display of purposeful running and having a hand in the first two goals before deservedly finding the net himself in the 85th minute.
Celtic made three changes to the side that lost to Partick Thistle with Darnell Fisher, Joe Chalmers and Bahrudin Atajic replacing Lewis Toshney, Andre Blackman and Rabiu Ibrahim.
Fisher and Chalmers slotted in at full-back with Atajic playing on the right of a four man midfield anchored by Callum McGregor and Jackson Irvine with Patrik Twardzik playing on the left.
Watt moved forward to partner Morten Rasmussen but still found time to drop onto either flank where his powerful running was a constant threat to the Airdrie Utd defence.
It was from that source that Celtic took the lead in the seventh minute when Watt charged down the left then cut the ball back to Twardzik who curled a 15 yard shot around Kenny Arthur into the net.
Celtic were setting the pace with Watt at the heart of most of the attacking play against his old club.
Just past the half hour mark he almost got on the scoresheet after exchanging passes with Rasmussen only to see his 18 yard drive strike the post and go wide.
Barrowman and Madden replaced Rasmussen and Thompson for the second half with Madden moving into defence alongside Fraser while Barrowman played left midfield pushing Twardzik into attack with Watt.
Ten minutes into the second half Atajic almost doubled Celtic’s lead when he was set up at the back post by Watt’s pass but the Airdrie United keeper got back across his goal-line to block the shot.
At the other end of the park Thomson produced a great instinctive save after Airdrie United substitute Cammy McDonald had got a powerful header onto a corner from the right.
Celtic stretched their lead in the 71st minute with Watt again heavily involved. After a quick exchange of passes with Atajic he raced in on goal from an angle, the Airdrie Utd keeper managed to block the striker’s shot but the loose ball broke to McGregor who netted from close range.
Eadie replaced Atajic after the second goal and took just four minutes to make his mark guiding a header past the Airdrie United keeper from Chalmers’ deep cross.
Watt finally got on the scoresheet with five minutes left to play when he netted from a Twardzik through ball and was only denied a second ball in the final minute by a goal line clearance from a retreating defender.
CELTIC: Thomson; Fisher, Thompson (Madden 46), Fraser, Chalmers: Atajic ( Eadie 72), McGregor, Irvine, P Twardzik: Rasmussen (Barrowman 46), Watt
SUB not used: Glenn Daniels
SCORERS: Twardzik 7, McGregor 71, Eadie 76, Watt 85Â
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Tony Watt man of the match! No surprises there! Should have been in the squad for last night’s match with Ajax, instead of that donkey Darryl Murphy(sorry but it’s true)!
Well done the young Celts! Much improved on the performance against the Jags.
HH!!
Yeah that’s great but were still in crisis after losing another friendly last night the sooner Lennon goes the better if you can’t win friendly matches you must be the worst Celtic manager in history as no other Celtic manager ever lost a friendly.
Not my opinion but reading some people on video celts after last night am fully expecting some comments like that. Hail hail and well done to the young hoops the future is very bright indeed.
Beware of huns in Celts clothing, Mark. They’re fooling no-one. Their spelling gives them away.
Excellent response to the disappointing performance v Thistle. Is this the same Airdrie side that went down 1-2 to Sevco’s finest last week.
Big well done to Tony Watt, great attitude in returning from first team duty to the Development side. Setting an example for all.
haha the same airdrie that sevco’s first team only managed to beat 2-1!! although as scotlands newest football team, playing a team from a higher league that would have to be considered a upset and good result.
Totally agree Tally he should have been playing in Amsterdam. I really hope more than a few younsters get their chance this season as it is an excellent opportunity to give some of them a run in the first team to see if they have what it takes. If they are good enough they are old enough.