Late goals from Theo Archibald and Joe Thomson earned Celtic a 2-0 win over St Johnstone to clinch the Development League title- with seven matches left to play.
The Perth side had matched Celtic in every area but with the game looking like ending goal-less the young hoops pulled something special out of the bag with Archibald opening the scoring in the 79th minute, finding the net after some patient build up play ended with a well placed cut-back from Aidan McIlduff.
The Development League is an extension of the u-20 League with clubs allowed to field overage players but it’s been a youthful Celtic side throughout the campaign with all of tonight’s squad qualifying to play at u-19 level.
In central defence Jamie McCart and Fiacre Kelleher have been virtual ever presents while Joe Thomson, Mark Hill and Regan Hendry have all been regulars throughout the 25 games to date.
With 23 wins plus draws against Hamilton and St Mirren from 25 matches there can be no doubting the worthiness of the title win with second placed Hamilton 16 points behind with five matches left to play.
It was tough going for the young Celts throughout the match, despite some promise from Archibald and McIlduff in the early stages down the left flank the St Johnstone defence was giving nothing away.
The best chance of the first half fell to George Hunter but after racing through on goal his shot was blocked by the legs of Ross Doohan.
St Johnstone probably had the edge in terms of possession but neither keeper was really tasted with every ball fiercely contested by both sets of players.
Tommy McIntyre resisted the opportunity to make any changes at the interval with the first chance of the second half falling to the visitors with Doohan getting down well in the 51st minute to push a low shot round the post for a corner.
Eleven minutes from time McIlduff cut the ball back from the goal-line with Archibald perfectly placed to rifle a 16 yard shot high into the net. In the final minute Thomson raced through on goal before slipping his shot past the advancing Saints keeper.
CELTIC: Doohan, Higgins, Kelleher, McCart, McIlduff: Hill, Thomson: Murray (Lafferty 66), Hendry, Archibald: Miller.
SUBS: Hazard, Kerr, Kidd.
