Nesbitt hands out a lesson to Murray Park starlets
At the SFA Youth Cup Final at Hampden in April Nesbitt claimed a hat-trick as Celtic took the trophy thanks to a 5-2 scoreline with today’s victory every bit as emphatic.
Charlie Mulgrew and Eoghan O’Connell were the only players in Tommy McIntyre’s side to have started a first team match this season with the young hoops cramming all three goals into a ten minute spell either side of half time.
Despite sustained Celtic pressure it looked like the first half would finish goal-less but three minutes from the break Nesbitt produced a poacher’s finish to stab the ball home from a Calvin Miller cross from the left flank.
Five minutes into the second period Ryan Christie scored his first goal as a Celtic player, taking advantage of a slip from goalkeeper Robby McCrorie to double Celtic’s lead.
Two minutes later Nesbitt was again on target firing in a low angled shot following great work by Paul McMullan who has returned to Celtic following a loan spell at St Mirren.
Fortunately for the visitors there was no further scoring with former Manchester United starlet Jordan Thompson booked in the last 20 minutes alongside team-mates Jamie Brandon and Dylan Dykes.
Mulgrew, making his first appearance in two months following injury was replaced at half time by Mark Hill with Celtic superior to their lower division opponents in every area of the park.
Nesbitt is expected to complete a loan move to an SPFL Premiership side tonight.
CELTIC: Fasan; Ralston (Breslin 81), Kelleher, O’Connell, Waters; Thomson, Mulgrew (Hill 46); Nesbitt, Christie, Miller (Hendry 88); McMullan.
Subs: Doohan, McCart, Wardrop, Archibald
