A much changed Celtic Colts team were knocked out of the SPFL Trust Trophy by Morton with the 3-1 scoreline just about justified for the Championship side.
Tommy McIntyre had to piece together a new look side with the defence the most disrupted with Dylan Corr and Matthew Anderson coming in for their debuts while Joe Murphy switched from midfield to right-back.
Ciaran Dickson celebrated his move to Celtic with an unlikely goal on the half hour but by then Morton had already established a 2-0 lead.
It was a worthwhile outing for the Celtic side but a well drillen Championship side is a big step up from Lowland League opponents, especially with some key players like Rocco Vata, Owen Moffat and Bosun Lawal missing.
Celtic did have Dickson, Liam Shaw and Kerr McInroy strung across midfield but all three were short of match fitness against opponents well into their season.
Osaze Urhoghide looked the part in central defence with the former Sheffield Wednesday man marshalling very inexperienced team-mates in the backline.
Morton took the lead in the 15th minute when Michael Garrity was given time and space in the penalty box before firing a low 15 yard shot beyond Ryan Mullen.
Eleven minutes later Urhoghide pushed forward to help in attack, when the move broke down Morton quickly found Robbie Muirhead in space with the striker doubling the lead.
It looked ominous two minutes later when Morton hit the bar with a close range header but out of nowhere the Morton keeper spilled a very stoppable 25 yard shot from Dickson to bring Celtic back into the match.
The keeper atoned for that error with a good save from Shaw just before half-time with Celtis dragging themselves back into the tie.
On the hour mark Dickson sent a low shot against the post from 25 yards but five minutes later the tie was effectively over when Cameron Blues found space behind the Celtic defence to shoot past Mullen.
CELTIC: Mullen; Murphy, Urhoghide, Dylan Corr, Matthew Anderson (Jackson 60); Davidson, McInroy, Dickson, Shaw, Carse; Brooks,
SUBS: Letsosa, McLean, Deane, Robertson
? Today’s team to face @CelticFCB pic.twitter.com/i4tKXwcVYf
— Greenock Morton (@Morton_FC) September 4, 2021
