Scottish Lowland League
Saturday, July 22, 2023
Broadwood Stadium

CUMBERNAULD COLTS... 1
(Mortimer 31)

CELTIC... 0

The Celtic B team suffered defeat on the opening day of the new Lowland League season, losing out 1-0 to Cumbernauld Colts this afternoon (Saturday), with Billy Mortimer’s first half strike was enough to separate the sides.

In the early stages of the game, Celtic were intent on taking the game to their opponents, though they weren't able to fahsion many clear-cut opportunities to test the Cumbernauld Colts goalkeeper.

And the two best efforts of the first half for Celtic came via both wingers, Ben Quinn and Bruno Davidson, who tried their luck from range.

Cutting in from the right and the left respectively, the wide players attempted to test the keeper, but he was able to deal with both efforts.

Despite some of the positive play from the Celts in the opening 45 minutes, it was Cumbernauld Colts who took the lead just after the half-hour mark.

Working the ball into the box, the home side tested Josh Clarke with a good strike, which the 19-year-old was able to block. However, Mortimer reacted quickest to nod the ball home from a few yards out.

And Cumbernauld Colts thought they had the second goal just before the break, but the linesman’s flag was up quickly to deny Mortimer his second of the afternoon.

Celtic's best opportunity of the game came in the opening stages of the second half when Lewis Dobbie struck the post from close-range.

The forward made a well-timed run, meeting Mitchel Frame’s cross in from the left, but his strike could only hit the outside of the woodwork.

Minutes later, substitute Jude Bonnar had an opportunity to level up the scoring, running on the end of a long ball over the top of the Colts backline.

The winger took a touch to compose himself before hitting an effort from the angle, but the ball went narrowly wide.

Cumbernauld Colts look to create some chances of their own in the second half, with Josh Clarke making a good save late in the match to keep the scoreline at 1-0.

And in the dying stages of the game, Bonnar attempted to find Mackenzie Carse with a cross from the left, but the midfielder just couldn’t get on the end of it.

Celtic have the chance to quickly bounce back from today's disappointment with their first home league of the season against Caledonian Braves at the Excelsior Stadium on Tuesday evening (July 25).

CELTIC: Clarke, Dede, Frame, Robertson, Ferns (Osagie 46), Ure, Quinn (Hale 74), Carse, Dobbie, Thomson (Haddow 63), Davidson (Bonnar 46).
Subs: Morrison

Young Celts lose out on the opening day of the league season