A first half goal from John Herron earned Celtic’s u-20 side a vital 1-0 win away to Kilmarnock.
Three wins in nine days- without conceding a goal- have lifted the young hoops into second place in the table, two points behind Sevco with a game in hand.
On a bitterly cold afternoon at the Kilwinning Sports Centre chances were at a premium as both sides tried to adapt to the testing conditions.
Celtic dominated the match but there were few chances created although the hoops twice struck the crossbar.
New signing Holmber Fridjonsson would have felt perfectly at home on the astroturf with the biting wind reminding him of home in Iceland.
Fridjonsson led the line impressively showing a great appetite to get involved with Herron, Liam Henderson and Patrik Twardzik quick to push forward in support.
Henderson almost opened the scoring in the fifth minute with an imaginative lob from the edge of the penalty box that home keeper Conor Brennan did well to touch onto the crossbar.
Lewis Kidd and Henderson then combined to create an opening for Herron but he failed to connect properly with his shot off target.
Just past the half hour mark Celtic took the lead with a well worked and executed goal. Kidd made good progress down the right with Herron racing to meet his cross at the front post to steer the ball past Brennan.
Eoghan O’Connell sent a glancing header inches wide of the post from a Conor McManus free-kick midway through the second period with substitute Kieran Tierney sending a stoppage time free kick against the crossbar.
Next week Celtic are in action away to Hamilton on Tuesday evening.
CELTIC: Fasan: Kidd, O’Connell, Fraser (Kelleher 46), Fisher (Tierney 60): Herron, McManus, Lindsay, Henerson, Twardzik: Fridjonsson (McMullan 73)