Celtic B team lose out against Caledonian Braves | OneFootball

Scottish Lowland LeagueSaturday, December 23, 2023Alliance Park

CALEDONIAN BRAVES... 4(McNeil 22, Clocherty 56, Martins 82, 85)

CELTIC… 2(Dobbie 24, Hatton 47)

Celtic FC B suffered defeat on their return to Lowland League action this afternoon (Saturday), losing out 4-2 to Caledonian Braves.

After coming from behind to take the lead early in the second half, the young Hoops suffered a similar fate, as the home side returned to favour to seal all three points in the second half.

Following on from their positive midweek display against Chelsea in the Premier League International Cup, the Bhoys were back in league action on Saturday afternoon.

And with a quick turnaround from their trip to the English capital, Stephen McManus and Darren O’Dea made six changes to the side.

The Bhoys made a positive start to the match, with Ben Quinn getting some space down the left and delivering a series of dangerous low cross into the box but no one could get on the end in a Celtic shirt.

However, the Hoops were made to pay in the early stages, as the home side opened the scoring just beyond the 20th minute mark.

After winning the ball back high up the pitch, Caledonian Braves pounced to make the opportunity count as Ross McNeil tucked his finish into the back of the net.

Just a matter of moments later, though, the Celts produced the perfect response, quickly levelling up the scoring at Alliance Park.

Pouncing on a defensive mistake at the back, Lewis Dobbie picked up the ball midway inside the Braves half, running through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Staying composed, the forward slotted the ball into the far corner to make the score 1-1.

After quickly getting themselves back into the game, it was the Bhoys who looked the most likely in the first half to grab a second goal.

Following his first strike, Dobbie came close to grabbing his and Celtic’s second forcing the Braves shot-stopper into a good save.

Just before the break, the Bhoys somehow didn’t get that all-important second.

After working his way into the box with some good individual play, Rocco Vata found Thomas Hatton at the back post, but the winger couldn’t find the net from close-range.

However, heading into the second half, Hatton made up for that missed opportunity, scoring at the beginning of the half to put the Hoops in the lead.

The youngster reacted well to the cross towards the back post, getting in front of his marker before poking the ball home with a half-volleyed finish.

After a somewhat positive first 55 minutes of the match, it went downhill for the Bhoys as the home side grabbed an equaliser, through a thunderous volley from inside the area.

As the game approached the closing stages, it appeared to be heading for a draw. However, two late goals from set-pieces saw the Celts suffer defeat on their travels once more.

The Bhoys will be aiming to round the year off in a positive manner when they return to action next Friday evening as they take on Gretna at the Excelsior Stadium.

CELTIC: Clarke, Osagie, Mackenzie, McArdle (Carse 68), Agbaire, Ure, Thomson (Kelly 78), Hatton (Frame 60), Dobbie (Cummings 60), Vata, Quinn.Subs: McLean, Dede, Kyle