A late goal from Aidan Nesbitt gave Celtic a 1-0 win over Partick Thistle to send Tommy McIntyre’s side into the new year with a record of 11 wins and a draw from 12 Development League fixtures.
It was a tough night for the Celtic side with Thistle deserving of at least a point in the cold of Broadwood.
Despite sitting in mid-table Thistle enjoyed plenty of possession but were unable to find a cutting edge with Nesbitt’s goal coming against the run of play.
After quarter of a hour Anthont Stokes stretched his legs to chase a ball down the right, there were no takers when he crossed into the penalty box but when Calum Waters returned the ball from the left Nesbitt shot over the bar from 15 yards out.
Stokes had a half chance a few minutes later when he raced onto a long ball from midfield but after taking a touch to tame the ball his shot across goal went round the wrong side of the post.
Other than those two scraps there was little to report from a first half that produced plenty of endevaour but little to excite the 100 supporters seated in the main stand.
Thistle started the second half in whirlwind fashion, forcing two corner kicks following a great passing move that opened up the Celtic defence.
Celtic toiled to create much in the way of chances with the toll of a fourth game in 11 days. McIntyre used all three substitutes to keep things fresh and was rewarded with the winning goal in the 82nd minute.
Picking the ball up wide on the right Nesbitt cut into the penalty box then sent a low drive across goalkeeper Waters into the corner of the net.
THISTLE: Waters, Miller, Penrice, Frans, McMullin, Leyden, McDaid, Edwards, Nisbet, McCarthy, McInally
SUBS: Cullen, McLaughlin, E Docherty, Whiteside, Lamont.
CELTIC: Hazard; Wardrop, Kelleher, McCart, Waters; Breslin (Higgins 74), Hill; Nesbitt, Donnelly (Hendry 46), Miller; Stokes (McIlduff 65)
SUBS: McCabe, Murray, Archibald, Lafferty
