The Celtic B team hosted Lowland League leaders Spartans FC in what was a massive game in the fight for the championship. Celtic sat three points off of top spot with a win moving them clear of the visitors on goal difference with four games to play.
The young Celts would look to start the game in the controlling possession style football they have got used to playing under Darren O’dea but that was disrupted inside the first two minutes when the visitors took the lead. Following a cross from the left-hand side, Jamie Dishington got himself on the end of it and cut the ball back to Reece Armstrong who’s thunderous volley bounced in off the underside of the crossbar to give the league leaders the perfect start in Airdrie.
The Bhoys dominated all of the ball in the first half but couldn’t break down the stubborn Spartan’s defence as they didn’t even test the keeper with a shot on target. The visitors had little in front of goal either as their few counterattacks petered out with shots off goal.
At half-time O’dea made his first change as he withdrew carded Joseph Murphy who was replaced by Corey Thomson.
Celtic seemed to show more urgency in the second period but still struggled to create against a Spartans side which were getting deeper and deeper as the match progressed. Rocco Vata was replaced after the hour mark in what is his first game back after a few weeks out with an injury. It was Ben Quinn who made way for eventual goalscorer, Daniel Cummings.
As it looks like time is almost up at the Excelsior, Celtic find an equaliser. A cross from the right-hand side originally for Tsoanelo Letsosa falls perfectly for Cummings as he takes a touch before firing in from close range to score what could prove to be a massive goal in Celtic’s bid for the Lowland League Title.
After the match Darren O’dea gave his thoughts on the match: “The players, we spoke to them at half time to remain composed, to just keep believing in what they were doing and for every second of the game keep pushing, never ever lose it and that’s hard to do and they did it and they got their rewards at the end.”
The point leaves the B team still three points a drift of the league leaders with four games to play. Celtic sit in third, two points behind Rangers, and one and two points ahead of fourth and fifth placed University of Stirling and Tranent Juniors as now just five points splits the top five.
The B teams next match is a massive trip to Ibrox where a win would push them up to second and have them one point clear of their rivals with just three games to play.
