Scottish Lowland League
Friday, October 20, 2023
Ainslie Park, Edinburgh

HEARTS B… 2
(Sandilands 4, Kirk 17pen)

CELTIC… 1
(Carse 44pen)

Celtic FC B suffered defeat in a closely-contested match-up in the capital as Hearts B ran out 2-1 winners at Ainslie Park.

After going two goals behind early in the match, the Hoops looked to find a way back into the match via Mackenzie Carse’s spot-kick at the end of the half. However, the Celts couldn’t find a leveller in the second half.

Following a positive performance but disappointing result against Bo’ness United on Tuesday evening, the Bhoys were looking to bounce back tonight against an in-form Hearts B side, as well as dealing with the wet and windy weather conditions.

Unfortunately for the young Hoops, the match got off to the worst possible start as the home side took the lead inside five minutes.

Breaking down the right, the Hearts winger had space to cut the ball back to Callum Sandilands, and he forward made no mistake with his finish.

And the opening period of the match went from bad to worse from the Bhoys as Hearts doubled their advantage on 17 minutes.

Winning a penalty, MaKenzie Kirk stepped up to take it, and although Celtic goalkeeper Kai McLean went the right way, the strike was too powerful, finding the bottom corner to make it 2-0 for the home side.

However, as the half went on, Celtic began to grow in confidence and started to enjoy some more possession, and Mitchel Frame was next to try and create an opening on the wing, breaking down the left before firing a dangerous ball across goal, but no one was there to get on the end of his cross.

As the half came to a close, the Celts found a route back into the game as Mackenzie Carse scored to reduce the deficit.

After Lewis Dobbie was fouled inside the area, the B Team skipper calmly stepped up and tucked the ball under the Hearts shot-stopper.

Heading into the second half, the young Hoops enjoyed a much better spell in the early stages, creating a number of openings as they looked for an equaliser.

A big chance fell to Carse early on to grab his and Celtic’s second of the evening on the edge of the area, but his effort went over the crossbar.

As the Bhoys piled on the pressure, both Corey Thomson and Sean McArdle saw their efforts from inside the box blocked. Lewis Dobbie also had the ball in the back of the net, but the flag was quickly up for offside.

Most of Celtic’s threats seemed to be coming in wide areas, and with around 20 minutes left both Frame and Davidson fired a serious of dangerous crosses into the box, but no one was able to get on the end of them.

Although the Celts created the better of the chances at the beginning of the second period, Hearts also grew back into the match and Kai McLean was forced into a series of smart stops to deny the home side.

Ultimately, the Hoops couldn’t find the way to goal to level the scoring and the away visit to the capital ended in defeat in tough conditions.

Next up for the Bhoys is a return to UEFA Youth Leage action as they welcome Atletico Madrid to The City Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

CELTIC: McLean, Bonetig (Osagie 77), Frame (Mackenzie 73), Robertson, Agbaire, McArdle (Ferns 61), Davidson, Carse, Dobbie, Kelly (Bonnar 77), Thomson.
Subs: Morrison, Turley, Haddow

Celtic B team lose out in Lowland League clash with Hearts