Cameron Harper scored the only goal of the game as Celtic beat Dunfermline 1-0 in the Reserve Cup at East End Park on Tuesday afternoon.
After victories over Dundee and Morton Tommy McIntyre’s side will need to beat Motherwell in December to advance to the knock out phase of the competition.
A hamstring injury to Jonathan Afolabi allowed Harper to play in the central striker role after being used out wide in his appearances this season.
The American teenager had an early shot blocked by the home defence but when a Scott Robertson free kick was parried into his path midway through the first half his instinct poked the ball into the net.
Harper had the ball in the net in the second half but was judged to be offside which just about summed up a frustrating afternoon for the young Celts.
Dunfermline rarely posed any threat to Ryan Mullen in the Celtic goal but there just seemed to be something missing from the visitors’ play in the final third of the park.
CELTIC: Mullen; O’Connor, Church, McKay, Paterson; Coffey, Robertson (Mazis 61) Dembele (McBride 89), Burt (Savoury 81), Oko-Flex; Harper
SUBS: Hughes, McRobb, Wylie
