10-man Celtic B Team lose ground in Lowland League after manic first-half

By Dave Flanigan

October 29, 2022

Celtic FC B lost further ground in the Lowland League today after going down 4-2 to the Cumbernauld Colts at Broadwood.

The young Celts were looking to bounce back from a narrow defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in Airdrie on Wednesday, and found themselves two goals up but a man down after fifteen minutes of the game in North Lanarkshire, in a crazy first half that saw four goals in addition to Ewan Otoo’s red after just five minutes of the match.

Red cards have been an issue for the B’s this season, with three coming for last man challenges alone – including Otoo’s today.

An own-goal from Cumbernauld put Celtic ahead after less than two minutes, before Otoo was given his marching orders for a cynical foul attempting to prevent the home side breaking into the box.

However, Celtic doubled their lead ten minutes later, when Joey Dawson converted Corey Thomson’s cross to the back post for his second goal in as many Lowland League games for the B’s.

Their lead was cut after 25 minutes when Craig Holmes converted a penalty for Cumbernauld, before the home side dragged themselves level six minutes before half-time via Cole McIntyre’s goal.

Stephen McManus brought Tsoanelo Letsosa on for Josh Dede at the break, as well as Adam Brooks and Joe Murphy before the hour, but Cumbernauld completed their comeback almost immediately, Marky Munro making it 3-2 in the 59th minute.

Rocco Vata was introduced to try and turn the game around for Celtic but Cumbernauld sealed the points with under twenty minutes remaining with Holmes’ second spot kick of the match.

The B’s remain in 9th after today’s result, 11 points shy of their Glasgow rivals who top the Lowland League table, with Open Goal Broomhill the next league assignment on Bonfire Night next weekend.

However, the immediate priority for the youngsters is a trip to the Spanish capital to face Real Madrid at the Alfredo Di Stefano on Wednesday, as they look to finish their UEFA Youth League campaign on a high.

In other news: Carter-Vickers makes decisive Champions League vow ahead of Celtic’s Madrid assignment