Scottish Lowland League

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Christie Gillies Park, Edinburgh

CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS…0

CELTIC… 2

(Thomson 67, Vata 81)

Coming out at the break level, two second-half goals away to Civil Service Strollers gave the Celtic B side their first away win of the new Lowland League campaign.

After a goal-less first half that saw Celtic come close on a number of occasions, it took the introduction of 16-year-old Corey Thomson as a second-half substitute to put the Bhoys ahead in the 67th minute. Shortly after, Rocco Vata made it two with a stunning left-foot finish to seal the win.

Celtic almost took the lead as early as the fifth minute when Ben Summers smashed a shot off the crossbar. The Bhoys kept the pressure on the home side who had started the game on a high having notched up two wins from their first three games, Summers coming close again and Johnny Kenny having his shot saved in the 17th minute.

Just after the half-hour it looked like Ben Quinn’s block from a goalkeeper’s clearance would rebound into the net but somehow it stayed out and the score remained goal-less.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic, though, and goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi had to be at his acrobatic best to tip over a goal-bound volley from Strollers’ striker Innes Lawson just before half time.

Into the second half and Celtic had a strong claim for a penalty denied by the referee after Johnny Kenny appeared to be fouled in the box.

Lawson once again was proving to be the main threat for the home side as he shot wide on 58 minutes despite being through on goal.

In the 65^th minute, Quinn was replace by Thomson who made an instant impact when he prodded the ball home from inside the box to give Celtic a well-deserved lead.

Thomson then turned provider with some great build-up play which resulted in Johnny Kenny firing over from close range.

The points were put beyond doubt in the 81^st minute when Vata powered a left-foot shot high into the net past Whyte to the delight of the supporters who had made the trip to the north Edinburgh ground for the match.

All in all, it was a very satisfactory performance from a spirited side who next face East Kilbride on Friday night at Excelsior Stadium.

CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS: Whyte, Kasa, Valentine, Oztruk, Shaw, Balatoni, Cole, Laird, Young, Lawson, Kennedy.

CELTIC: Oluwayemi, Murphy, Lawal, Corr, Otoo, Carse, Letsosa (Dobbie 89), Summers, Vata, Quinn (Thomson 65), Kenny (Kelly 82).

Subs: Luyeye, Morrison, Agbaire, MacKenzie.

Thomson and Vata strikes seal three points for young Celts