The Celtic B Team recorded their second win in a week as they swept aside Berwick Rangers 2-0 in the Lowland League with a confident display in Airdrie.

Rocco Vata opened the scoring with an excellent half-volley before Adam Brooks scored his third goal in two games to double Celtic’s lead before half-time.

Celtic made an excellent start to the game as they quickly piled the pressure on the visiting defence. The first chance came after just two minutes when Owen Moffat cut inside from the left and fired off a right-footed shot from distance that flew a yard over the crossbar.

Adam Brooks passed up a wonderful opportunity to score his third goal in two games in the eighth minute when he ran on to a through ball on the edge of the box which he sliced just wide of the post.

The Celtic front line were linking up well early on as they crafted openings in the Berwick Rangers’ defence with slick passing and well-timed runs.

Vata and Brooks almost broke the deadlock 15 minutes in with a well-worked one-two but Brooks was unable to connect properly with his shot across goal and Andrew McNeill was able to get down to make a comfortable save.

Celtic took their next chance to establish a well-deserved lead in the 18^th minute. Moffat chipped a perfectly weighted pass over the Berwick Rangers defence which Vata ran on to and smashed into the top corner on the half-volley.

The Hoops defence had to sustain a brief period of pressure midway through the first half. The visitors nearly snatched an equaliser with a deflected shot that rolled just wide of the post. Leo Hjelde made an important block shortly afterwards to deny Alexander Harris a goal.

Celtic remained composed and soon had their opponents pinned inside their own half as they worked to increases their lead before half-time.

Vata almost doubled the lead when he forced a good save from the keeper with a lovely flick on at the near post from MacKenzie Carse’s cutback. Moffat created space for himself around the edge of the penalty area but his drilled shot was deflected into the arms of the keeper.

Berwick started the second better than they had the first as they frantically searched for a route back into the game but the Celtic defence dealt well with the pressure including Benny-Jackson Luyeye who made a well-timed block to stop Calum Smith’s shot from the edge of the area.

Vata created a chance from himself in the 53^rd minute when he cut in from the right and pulled the trigger from the edge of the six-yard box but the Celtic winger was surrounded by three opposition players and his effort was blocked on its way to goal. Bosun Lawal’s header from the resulting corner wasn’t far off from going in as it skimmed the roof of the net.

The Berwick defence were more organised in the second half and both sides fought to assert control of the game. Berwick desperately searched for a way back into the game but could not penetrate the Hoops backline.

It was a scrappier affair throughout the second half and the young Hoops showed their ability to grind out a result and handle the physicality of the game. The win sees Tommy McIntyre’s side undefeated in their last three with a draw and two wins. It also marked the Celtic B Team’s first pick win at home after a 1-1 draw with East Kilbride in their first home game of the season.

CELTIC: Mullen; Paterson, Hjelde, Lawal, Jackson; Carse, Murphy, Wylie (Letsosa 82), Moffat, Vata, Brooks (Davidson 61).
Subs: Robertson, Oluwayemi, Deane.

BERWICK RANGERS: McNeil, Ferguson, Ward, Cook, Pyper, MacKenzie, Taylor (Purves 75), Barr, Allan, Smith (Nelson 66), Harris.
Subs: Heeps, Swinton, Somerville, Baker.

Celtic B Team impress in thoroughly deserved win against Berwick Rangers