A Celtic XI proved too strong for Morton as the visitors ran out 3-1 winners in an entertaining testimonial at Cappielow for long serving kit man Andy Bryan.
Anthony Stokes and Stefan Scepovic were the headline acts that got on the scoresheet, alongwith Luke Donnelly, with plenty of players putting in impressive performances.
Donnelly, Aidan Nesbitt and Kieran Tierney all showed that they are ready if the call comes for first team duty with the fitness and determination of the visitors turning the screw on the newly promoted Championship side.
Celtic started impressively pushing forward and pressing at every opportunity and deservedly took the lead in the 15th minute with an old fashioned traditional effort.
Nesbitt send over a text book cross from the right with Scepovic heading low into the net at the front post from eight yards out.
Following that goal Celtic suddenly eased back inviting Morton into the match with Tom Orr equalising just four minutes later with an assured finish racing onto a long pass that opened up the hoops defence.
For the best part of 20 minutes Morton had Celtic pressed back with the visitors guilty of some sloppy passing.
Fortunately Orr missed a glorious chance with a fresh air swipe at an open goal in the 40th minute with Celtic cashing in at the other end.
Another precision cross from Nesbitt was headed clear for a corner but from the set piece goalkeeper Derek Galston struggled to push away the winger’s cross with Donnelly on hand to drill the rebound into the net.
Three minutes into the second half Celtic increased their lead with Stokes cutting in from wide on the left to clip a low shot past Gaston in the home goal.
Despite their two goal cushion there was no let up in the intensity of Celtic’s play as they surged forward from all areas with Stokes and Nesbitt stretching the Morton defence as Scepovic and Donnelly enjoyed pockets of space.
CELTIC: Fasan; Wardrop (McCart 53), O’Connell, Breslin, Tierney; Thomson, Lindsay; Nesbitt, Donnelly, Stokes (Miller 65); Scepovic
SUBS: Â McCabe, Murray, Hill, Hendry, McIlduff,Â