An impressive Partick Thistle side deservedly beat a Celtic XI 2-0 to reach the final of tomorrow’s ARR Craig Cup.
Celtic were second in every area of the park to Jackie McNamara’s side who scored goals in each half through Sean Welsh and Steven Lawless.
Thistle’s season opens next Saturday against Clyde in the Ramsdens Cup with the home side looking well prepared for the season ahead.
Celtic return to Firhill tomorrow to face Airdrie Utd or Everton in the third place play-off with the match kicking off at 12 noon.
Stevie Frail’s side lined up in the familiar 4-5-1 formation used by the u-19 side with Morten Rasmussen spearheading a flexible midfield of Patrik Twardzik on the right, Callum McGregor and Jackson Irvine behind Rabui Ibrahim with Tony Watt on the left.
At the back Lewis Toshney and Andre Blackman were in thefull-back slots either side of Josh Thompson and Marcus Fraser.
Thistle were quicker out of the blocks and looked far sharper than their visitors. Celtic rarely got a chance to show their passing game with the home side sharp in the tackle and eager to get forward at every opportunity.
Former Celt Stephen O’Donnell pushed into the box in the 10th minute but Christie Elliot’s attempt at a ‘Wellbeck back heel’ was blocked by Fraser.
Thistle had to replace Aaron Sinclair with Welsh on the half hour after a clash of heads with Lewis Toshney that saw the Celtic defender return to the field with his head bandaged.
Welsh wasted no time making an impact heading powerfully into the net from a Paul Paton free kick on the Celtic left.
The lead could easily have been increased with Thistle missing a couple of good chances before the half closed but four minutes into the second period the lead was doubled when Lawless curled a shot around Thomson from the edge of the penalty box.
In the 57th minute Celtic made a double substitution with Paul Slane and Darnell Fisher replacing Twardzik and Toshney.
A McGregor free kick in the 75th minute brought out a full length save from Scott Fox but the former Celtic keeper was rarely tested.
THISTLE: Scott Fox, Stephen O’Donnell, Aaron Sinclair (Sean Welsh 30), Paul Paton, Aaron Muirhead, Alan Archibald, Steven Lawless, Stuart Brannigan, Christie Elliot, Hugh Murray, Chris Erskine
CELTIC: Robbie Thomson; Lewis Toshney (Darnell Fisher 57), Josh Thompson, Marcus Fraser, Andre Blackman (Joe Chalmers 86); Patrik Twardzik (Paul Slane 57), Callum McGregor, Rabui Ibrahim (Bahrudin Atajic 70), Jackson Irvine, Tony Watt; Morten Rasmussen
SUB: Glenn Daniels,
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