SPFL Trust Trophy
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

CELTIC... 1
(Vata 11)

EAST KILBRIDE... 3
(Biggar 7, Samson 56, Kelly 81)

Celtic FC B were eliminated from the SPFL Trust Trophy this evening (Wednesday), losing 3-1 to East Kilbride at the Excelsior Stadium.

After falling a goal behind early on, the Celts produced the perfect response, levelling the score through Rocco Vata.

However, despite some positive moments, two second-half goals put the visitors ahead and into the second round of the competition

The young Hoops came out the blocks and almost opened the scoring within the first few minutes of the game.

An early set-piece saw the ball fall to Mitchell Robertson inside the area, but his header was saved by the East Kilbride goalkeeper.

Despite the positive start for Celtic, it was the visitors who opened the scoring on seven minutes.

After working the ball around the penalty area, striker Callum Biggar was released inside the area and he made no mistake with his finish.

However, just four minutes later the Celtic B team were level. Pressing the visitors high up the pitch, Kyle Ure managed to win the ball back in a dangerous area before setting up Rocco Vata.

And the young Irishman did brilliantly to produce a calm finish to slot the ball into the net.

The equaliser saw the Hoops grow in confidence and they looked to work more opportunities in front of goal.

The best of those fell to Ben Quinn after some good work from Bosun Lawal, who set up the chance for the winger. However, Quinn's effort went just wide of the target.

In the second-half, it was East Kilbride who took the lead again on the break when Keir Samson scored, the forward racing through on goal and rounding Josh Clarke before knocking the ball into the Celtic net.

The Bhoys looked to bounce back straight away once more, and the double substitution of Lewis Dobbie and Jude Bonnar almost had an instant impact.

Just moments after being introduced to the game, Dobbie was released one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he couldn’t find the net. The subsequent rebound fell to Bonnar who tried to find the bottom corner, but his low strike was cleared off the line.

Despite creating some openings of their own, the Hoops had to rely on Josh Clarke making a number of fine saves to keep themselves in the game.

However, as the tie entered the final 10 minutes, East Kilbride substitute Marc Kelly scored from close-range to give the away side a 3-1 lead.

While the defeat ends Celtic’s SPFL Trust Trophy campaign, the Bhoys will be aiming to quickly bounce back as they return to Lowland League action at the Excelsior Stadium this weekend against Gala Fairydean Rovers.

CELTIC: Clarke, McPherson, Frame, Lawal, Robertson, Ure (Bonnar 60), Davidson (Dede 78), Kelly, Vata (Dobbie 60), Carse. Quinn (Thomson 46).
Subs: Morrison, Osagie, Agbaire

Disappointment as Celtic B team lose SPFL Trust Trophy tie