SPFL Trust Trophy
Round 2
Penny Cars Stadium, Airdrie
Saturday, September 4, 2021

CELTIC B… 1
(Dickson 29)

GREENOCK MORTON... 3
(Garrity 16, Muirhead 26, Blues 64)

The Celtic B Team suffered a valiant 3-1 defeat against Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton in the second round of the SPFL Trust Trophy today (Saturday) at the Penny Cars Stadium.

Early goals from Michael Garrity and Robbie Muirhead put the visitors in front inside the first half-hour, before Ciaran Dickson pulled one back for the Hoops. Into the second period, however, and Morton pulled further in front via Cameron Blues – a two-goal advantage they preserved until the final whistle.

The match started at a ferocious pace as both sides sought to make their mark on the game in opening 15 minutes. An early free-kick 40-yards for Celtic allowed Tommy McIntyre’s men to put the visitors under pressure, but a wave of attacks saw Greenock Morton gain the upper-hand early on.

With 10 minutes on the clock, Hoops captain Kerr McInroy did well to block the visitors inside the six-yard box as they sought to break the deadlock. On 16 minutes, Greenock Morton went in front when Garrity scored from close range, tucking the ball into the bottom corner beyond Mullen.

Ten minutes after that and the visitors doubled their lead when McGrattan sent a neat ball high and long from the back into the path of Muirhead. The attacker took a tough and cooly slotted the ball into the net. Growing in confidence as the half wore on, Morton hit the ball on 28 minutes, again via McGrattan, but the Hoops managed to clear.

One minute on, and Celtic pulled level – when new signing Dickson tried his luck from range, and forced a fumble from Morton stopper Wiley.

In the final 15 of the first half, much of the Hoops’ play came on the counter, while Ryan Mullen was called into action on several occasions with a flurry of fine saves.

Tommy McIntyre’s men returned from the interval to press the game in search of an equaliser, and on 56 minutes, Bruno Davidson was denied by a fine Wiley save followed a deadly Dickson cross.

Over the hour and the home side swapped Matthew Anderson for forward Tsoanelo Letsosa in a bid to change the dynamic of their attack. But, unfortunately for the Hoops, Morton restored their two-goal advantage on 64 minutes when Cameron Blues scored at close-range under pressure.

Despite stepping out in search of goals in the closing stages, Greenock Morton held firm until the final whistle to progress to the next round of the tournament.

Disappointment for Tommy McIntyre and his B-Team side, who must now dust themselves off and pick themselves back up for league action this coming Wednesday.

CELTIC: Mullen, Murphy, Urhoghide, Corr, Anderson, McInroy, Davidson, Dickson, Shaw, Carse, Brooks
Subs: Letsosa, McLean, Robertson, Jackson, Deane

Valiant Celts fall to Greenock Morton in SPFL Trust Trophy