Scottish Lowland League
Saturday, August 7^th 2021
Newtown Park, Bo’ness

BO’NESS UNITED… 0

CELTIC… 2
(Letsosa 84, Davidson 87)

The Celtic B team overcame Bo’ness United 2-0 at Newtown Park today (Saturday) with two late goals scored by two late substitutes. Tsoanelo Letsosa and Bruno Davidson were the men of the moment for Tommy McIntyre’s side on the road, in a result that marked their third win in as many games.

Celtic started the match well, passing out from the back and patient in possession. Bo’ness’ early threat came from wide areas which called for concentration from the Hoops full-backs, Paterson and Jackson, however the home side’s end product was lacking.

Despite controlling the match in its early stages, clear-cut opportunities were few and far between in the first quarter-hour, with half-chances falling to Carse and Brooks respectively – the former dragging his shot from 20-yards wide of the left post; the latter sending his high and wide of the mark from similar range.

At the other end, Nick Locke did well to create space on the right flank before sending a wicked ball towards Oluwayemi’s front post, but the keeper handled comfortably. On the 14-minute mark, the Hoops stopper again found himself in the spotlight when he did exceptionally well to turn Conor McMullan’s long-range effort round the post with a strong right hand.

From there, much of the game was contained to the centre of the pitch where a series of well-contested battles dictated possession, with neither side creating much from the middle third.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, a miscommunication between Hjelde and Oluwayemi allowed Zander Miller to snatch at shot 12 yards from goal but the attacker sent his effort well high and wide of the mark thanks to enough pressure from the oncoming Paterson.

Goalless at the interval, Celtic returned to the pitch with a new spring in their step as Brooks burst onto a through-ball down the inside-right channel and flashed a shot across the keeper just inches wide of the target.

The Hoops continued to play with a relentless high-press and, on 54 minutes, created their next half-chance of the match via Boson Lawal. After committing himself at the business end of the pitch following a corner, the centre-back showed great strength to turn his man in the box, before curling a powerful drive wide.

Two minutes after that again and Vata showed great determination by beating his man on the right touchline, before sending a neat cut-back across the box with no takers.

Ahead of the hour mark, Brooks was unfortunate for a second time after the break when he unleashed a powerful drive just over the bar, and, on 68 minutes, the home side’s Nick Locke was shown a straight red after hauling Owen Moffat to the turf 20 yards from goal.

With the Hoops playing their football almost exclusively in the Bo’ness half, the visitors held the ball well as they sought to manipulate space in the final third. On 75 minutes, this was almost the result for their first goal when Patterson thundered down the left flank, zipped the ball back across the box only to just miss the oncoming Vata and Brooks.

Nine minutes later, and Celtic got the break they deserved when super sub Tsoanelo Letsosa scored with a typically striker’s finish, pouncing on a loose ball inside the penalty box. Three minutes after that again, and the Hoops’ final sub of the game, Bruno Davidson, did similar when he got on the end of a typically lethal Paterson cut-back to double his side’s lead.

Despite the timing of the goals, Tommy McIntyre’s men were every bit worthy of their two-goal advantage and now turn their attention to Annan Athletic in this Wednesday’s (August 11) SPFL Trust Trophy tie.

BO’NESS UNITED: Murphy, McCormack, Hunter, Grant, Comrie, Miller, Locke, Galbraith, McMullan, Macaulay, McKenzie
Subs: Stevenson, Skinner, Allan, Gillespie, Anderson, Flynn

CELTIC: Oluwayemi; Jackson, Lawal, Hjelde, Paterson; Murphy, Carse, Vata, Wylie, Moffat; Brooks
Subs: Mullen, Davidson, Letsosa, Dawson

Website Man of the Match: Brody Paterson

Two super sub strikes secure late win for Celtic B in Bo’ness