The Celtic B Team overcame Annan Athletic 2-0 in a dominant SPFL Trust Trophy win this evening (Wednesday) at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie.

Tommy McIntyre made seven changes to the side which overcame Bo’ness United in league action at the weekend, with a number of players who’ve been in and around the first-team this season so far entering the manager’s starting XI.

The Hoops dominated the opening stages with spells of concerted possession as they sought to unpick a tight Annan backline. Luca Connell, Kerr McInroy, Liam Shaw and Scott Robertson dictated play in central areas with the likes of Paterson and O’Connor stretching the game in defence and attack.

With just five minutes on the clock, it was the latter full-back who put the Hoops ahead when his well-struck effort on the edge of the box was deflected past keeper Fleming into the net.

The visitors duly stepped out as they sought an equaliser but Tommy McIntyre’s men contained them well as they continued to pass out from the back.

Captain for the evening, Bosun Lawal, was particularly assured in the heart of the Celtic defence and was ever-keen to instigate opportunities from deeper areas. That suited the likes of Shaw and McInroy as they pressed the Annan defence deeper with every wave of attack.

On 14 minutes, McInroy forced a solid block from Fleming with a shot from range, before, two minutes later, sending a left foot on the angle of the penalty box just wide of the mark.

From there, the Hoops created a string of half-chances, long and short, but the Annan backline held firm. Shaw’s pace and strength was a regular threat moving forward, and Dane Murray was cool and composed on a couple of occasions while blocking the visitors’ counter-attack.

Over the half-hour mark and the Hoops played the majority of their football in the Annan half, maintaining a high-press that allowed little space for movement from back to front. As the match progressed, Owen Moffat seemed to grow in confidence as he made a series of darting runs down the inside-left channel.

One in front at the break, Celtic were made to weather a reinvigorated Annan offensive seeking level terms in the opening stages of the second period. Typically cool defending from Murray and Lawal nullified the threat, as the Hoops strove to regain control of the match.

They quickly did so, and on 52 minutes, a wonderful piece of combination play between Paterson, Connell and Brooks culminated in the latter forward rattling the inside of the post on the angle in a move that likely deserved a goal.

As the match wore on, Annan opted to go long with the majority of their attacks which allowed Tommy McIntyre’s men to press higher into the final third in transition.

Substitute Joey Dawson combined well with his teammates at the top end of the pitch and did especially well to feed Moffat one-on-one with goalkeeper over the hour mark – but the attacker’s effort was well blocked by Fleming in goal.

Over the hour mark and it was Connell’s turn to test the keeper, but his right-footed drive from 10 yards was well parried round the post.

Celtic’s determination in the final third was finally rewarded on 73 minutes via a fine Scott Robertson goal. After collecting the ball in the middle third, the midfielder burst forward, played a neat one-two with Dawson and fired home into the corner of the net.

The second goal was no less than the Hoops deserved and allowed them to play with even more freedom in the closing stages of the game. A well-earned cup win for Tommy McIntyre’s men who now turn their attention to Saturday’s Scottish Football Lowland League encounter with Vale of Leithen.

CELTIC: Mullen; O'Connor, Lawal, Murray, Paterson; Connell, Robertson, Shaw; McInroy, Moffat (Wyile 83), Brooks (Dawson 53)
Subs: Oluwayemi, Jackson, Vata, Carse, Murphy

ANNAN ATHLETIC: G. Fleming, Barnes, Lowdon, Moxon, Douglas, K. Fleming, Wallace, Docherty, Smith, Goss, McCartney
Subs: Adamson, Anderson, Birch, Hunter, Purdue

Website Man of the Match: Scott Robertson

Celtic B Team sweep Annan aside in SPFL Trust Trophy tie