Lowland League

Raydale Park, Gretna

Saturday, August 13, 2022.

GRETNA FC 2008… 1

(Currie 2)

CELTIC B… 4

(Own Goal 38, Davidson 49, Letsosa 87, Davidson 91)

Celtic B bounced back from a goal down to seal all three points in an impressive 4-1 victory over Gretna FC 2008 in the Lowland League.

An own goal and strikes from Bruno Davidson, Tsoanelo Letsosa and Matthew Anderson sealed a solid win for the young Bhoys in a dominant display.

It was far from an ideal start for the Celts as inside the second minute they found themselves behind.

Straight from kick-off, Gretna kept hold of possession and some nice one-touch football found Russell Currie inside the area. Under pressure from Dylan Corr, the striker fell to the ground and the referee pointed to the spot and Currie stroked the spot-kick into the top right corner.

The hosts were in buoyant mood after that goal and almost doubled their lead on 10 minutes, Currie again was picked out but he could only head wide from 10 yards.

That certainly seemed to spark the Bhoys into action as they began to threaten in the search for an equaliser, with Mackenzie Carse going close on 18 minutes but his effort from a Davidson cutback was just cleared before it could cross the line.

With the temperature reaching 30 degrees in Gretna, the players had the chance for a water break on 22 minutes and for the coaches, it provided an opportunity to provide some instructions.

When the game restarted the Celts were dominant, with Rocco Vata slamming a freekick against the bar on 30 minutes and then Davidson forcing Jack Main into a fine stop four minutes after.

But on 38 minutes, Main couldn’t deny the Celts as Davidson sent a teasing ball across goal and under pressure from Rocco Vata, the Gretna defender bundled the ball over the line to level the scores.

As half-time approached, the Gretna keeper was kept busy as he had to produce stops to keep out efforts from Vata and Tsoanelo Letsosa.

After conceding early in the first half, it was the Celts' turn to score early in the second half, as Davidson got the second on 49 minutes.

Great play down the left-wing set up Matthew Anderson who sent in a low cross that evaded everyone bar Davidson, who snuck in at the back post to tap home from close range.

Carse was keeping Main in the Gretna goals busy, having a couple of efforts saved by the keeper before the 60th-minute mark, when Celtic made three changes to try and push for the crucial third goal.

They almost had it on 75 minutes as Letsosa raced down the right and played the ball across for the substitute Ben Quinn but the Gretna defender just got a toe in to clear the ball away for a corner when it looked certain to be a third.

With nine minutes left, Davidson thought he had his second in almost a carbon copy of his goal, as he raced into the far post to meet a cross from the left, this time the keeper just got back to clear off the line.

Then with three minutes to go, the Celts got their third, as Letsosa scored an absolute screamer, smashing an effort into the top right corner from 25 yards.

The action wasn't over though as with the last kick of the game, Anderson smashed home a shot into the bottom right corner from the left of the area to seal a perfect afternoon's work.

GRETNA FC 2008: Main, Moyles, Muir, Dickinson, Teviotdale, Caves, Mbewe (Helm), Carmichael, Currie (Bell), Fraser (Munro), Spelman (Short).

Subs: Duffy, Johnston, Duffy.

CELTIC B: Oluwayemi, Dede (McPherson), Anderson, Lawal, Corr (Murphy), Otoo, Davidson, Thomson (Kelly), Letsosa, Carse (Summers), Vata (Quinn).

Subs: Dobbie, Morrison.

Match Reaction

Celtic B defeat Gretna in impressive style in Lowland League clash