Scottish Lowland League
Penny Cars Stadium, Airdrie
Wednesday, September 8, 2021

CELTIC B… 2
(Dickson 34, Brooks 80)

GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS… 0

Tommy McIntyre’s Celtic B Team returned to league action with another confident win tonight (Wednesday) – this time overcoming Gala Fairydean Rovers 2-0 at the Penny Cars Stadium. Goals in either half from Ciaran Dickson and Adam Brooks made the difference on the night, however both sides created plenty of chances at either end.

The visitors got things underway and immediately pressed the game in its opening stages. A long ball into the box found the feet of Martin Scott before his advances were sent clear for a corner.

The Hoops regrouped quickly, however, as they sought to get their foot over the ball and passed well across the back and out from defence. Still, Gala Fairydean wasted no time on the counter and the first half-chance fell to the visitors when Daryl Healy fired a shot from range down the throat of Oluwayemi.

At the other end, Rocco Vata looked a constant threat on the left flank and, while playing on the shoulder of the last defender, did well to unpick the Rovers’ backline on two occasions before play was pulled back for offside.

On eight minutes, Celtic carved their first clear-cut chance via Ciaran Dickson, who fashioned onto a neat Ben Wylie flick inside before rattling the crossbar from 20 yards. This was a sign of things to come for the Hoops in the opening quarter-hour as they grew in confidence on the ball.

After 11 minutes, it was Bruno Davidson’s turn to try his luck from distance, but his low, drilled effort was well held by the Rovers keeper.

Five minutes later, and Ben Wylie whipped a dangerous dead ball into the box from 30 yards which missed everyone, including the goalkeeper, to come off the post. Centre-back Bosun Lawal followed up on the rebound but, despite the ball appearing to cross the line, the referee and his assistant decided otherwise.

Keen to force Celtic’s advances back, Gala continued to break well on the counter, carving another half-chance via Marc Berry who flashed a lethal ball across goal from the left to no avail with 20 minutes on the clock.

Oluwayemi was fearless in the face of oncoming strikers, punching clear on a handful of occasions – one instance of which spurred a counter-attack which started with fine footwork from Ben Wylie on the left and ended with Adam Brooks heading the ball into the arms of the goalkeeper. Moments later, the roles reversed on the right but again the Gala keeper held firm.

With 34 minutes played, the home side got the goal they deserved, when Wylie did well to find space on the left and cross into the box. Dickson was the first to react and stabbed the ball home from 10 yards to give the Hoops the lead.

One in front at the interval, Celtic returned for the second period to once more press the game. In the opening five minutes, Wylie fashioned two chances – one, an effort from 18 yards to the left of goal; the other a curling effort to the right, both of which were well held by the goalkeeper.

Ten minutes into the second half, and the Hoops next half-chance of the match fell to Rocco Vata, who showed a great turn of pace on the inside-right channel to lose his man, before bursting int the box and firing into the side-netting.

At the other end, Bosun Lawal was switched on to every high and long ball into the box to deny the visitors any sense of momentum – something galvanised by his goalkeeper Oluwayemi, who did superbly well ahead of the hour to deny attacker Scott with and outstretched leg.

As the match wore on, the pace of the game slowed down. Still, Celtic looked ever confident on the ball, while Gala Fairydeal attacked almost exclusively on the counter. To this end, with 70 minutes on the clock, Ross Aitcheson headed wide in what was the visitors’ best chance of the match.

The visitors would rue their missed opportunities when, with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Adam Brooks did exceptionally well to burst through the Gala backline before firing across the keeper into the net on the angle.

Given their dominance over the course of 90 minutes, the Hoops were deserving of their two-goal advantage. Now, Tommy McIntyre's side have a two-week break before playing Cumbernauld Colts on Friday, September 24.

CELTIC: Oluwayemi, Murphy, Lawal, Corr, Paterson, Carse, Vata, Dickson (Letsosa 83), Wylie, Davison (Anderson 77), Brooks (Jackson 86)
Subs: Mullen, Jackson, Deane

Celts sweep Gala Fairydean Rovers aside in confident league win