Scottish Lowland League
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

CELTIC… 3
(Vata 21, 75 & 86)

LINLITHGOW ROSE… 0

Celtic FC B returned to winning ways in the league on Wednesday evening after sealing a 3-0 win over Linlithgow Rose at the Excelsior Stadium.

After a dominant display in Airdrie, the Hoops took home all three points thanks to a fantastic hat-trick from Rocco Vata.

The Bhoys put in a strong showing in the opening 45 minutes, pressing on the front foot right from the off in search of the first goal.

Within the opening few minutes of the match, Celtic won the ball high up the park and Magnus Mackenzie forced the goalkeeper to palm the ball to safety.

Inside the first 10 minutes, the Celts came close to opening the scoring on several occasions through Mitchel Frame, who was causing trouble on the left.

The Hoops thought they had opened the scoring after a well-worked move made its way to Frame, who found Daniel Kelly with his cutback. The midfielder calmly the ball into the back of the net, but the flag was quickly up for offside.

Mackenzie Carse was next to come close for Celtic after a cross in from the left found the B team captain in acres of space inside the box. The midfielder tried to direct his header on target, but couldn’t trouble the Linlithgow shot-stopper.

However, the Celts didn’t have to wait much longer to open the scoring, with the all-important first goal coming on 21 minutes through Rocco Vata.

The young Irishman used his pace to latch on to a long ball over the top, before remaining composed and dinking the ball over the goalkeeper before rolling the ball into the empty net.

The Hoops quickly went on the hunt for a second goal in the first half and Kelly was given another opportunity to get on the scoresheet.

Once again winning the ball high up the pitch with their press, a nice interchange saw the ball fall to the Scottish youth internationalist but the goalkeeper produced a fantastic save with his feet to deny the midfielder.

For the rest of the first half, the Bhoys continued to dominate the ball and continued to try and work some opportunities in front of goal, whilst also restricting the visitors to very little as they headed into the break with a 1-0 lead.

In the early stages of the second half, the away side did venture forward on a few occasions as they looked to create their first openings of the match.

Celtic shot-stopper Josh Clarke was forced into a handful of saves, but they were all pretty comfortable for the youngster.

However, the game took a turn for the worse for the away side as they were reduced to 10 men on 67 minutes following a late challenge on Mackenzie Carse.

From there, the Hoops kicked on to seal all three points as, just under 10 minutes later, Vata grabbed his and Celtic’s second goal of the game.

A well-worked move made its way to the Irishman, who tucked the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot.

The Celts continued to maintain pressure on the visitors in the closing stages of the game as substitutes Ben Quinn and Bruno Davidson saw shots saved by the Linlithgow goalkeeper.

The scoring was ultimately wrapped up with just four minutes of normal time left to play as Vata sealed his hat-trick.

Anticipating a ball over the top of the Linlithgow backline, the forward once again clipped the ball over the goalkeeper, who was left with no chance.

Three goals at the Excelsior Stadium secured all three points for the Bhoys, who don’t have to wait long till they are in action once more as they take on Edinburgh University in Airdrie on Saturday, looking to build on a strong performance and result.

CELTIC: Clarke, Mackenzie (Osagie 81), Robertson, Bonetig (Thomson 64), Agbaire, Carse, Kelly (Bonnar 81), Ure (Quinn 64), Dobbie (Davidson 64), Vata, Frame.
Subs: Morrison

Rocco Vata hits a hat-trick as Celtic B deliver impressive win