Celtic B thump Rangers in cup clash as Joey Dawson continues red-hot form

By John McGinley

March 7, 2023

Joey Dawson can’t seem to stop scoring for the Celtic B team these days and was at it again with a double against Rangers in the Glasgow Cup this afternoon.

The young Hoops beat their rivals away from home by a 3-1 margin, with Mackenzie Carse also getting himself on the scoresheet for the Bhoys. The fixture was played behind closed doors at Rangers’ Auchenhowie training centre.

Celtic have been strong in the tournament so far, already beating Clyde and Queen’s Park in their other group games with a match against Partick Thistle to come.

Dawson has been an incredibly consistent force for Stephen McManus and Darren O’Dea this term, netting 20 goals in 20 Lowland League appearances.

The 19-year-old has actually already made his senior debut for the Bhoys – called up for action by Ange Postecoglou last season during a particularly heavy bout of illness and injury. He was brought on after just 15 minutes in a win away to St Johnstone after Kyogo Furuhashi suffered a hamstring problem.

Since then, he’s been regularly praised for his efforts with the B side and even attracted loan interest ahead of the January transfer window with Scottish Championship sides keen on his services. He’ll be hoping to make further progress in the Celtic ranks, or get experience away from the Bhoys, over the next 12 months. His current contract runs until the summer of 2024 after signing from Scunthorpe.

Aside from their Glagsow Cup bid, Celtic B continue to hunt glory in the Lowland League and are locked in a four-way battle to win the division with Spartans, University of Stirling and this Rangers team. The Bhoys currently sit in third on 64 points, but hold a game in hand on the second-placed Ibrox outfit.

At a lower age group, Celtic’s U18 youths coached by Stuart McLaren are into the Scottish Youth Cup final at Hampden later this year, facing either Hamilton or Rangers who play later this month.

Onwards and upwards for our academy prospects!

In other news, Ange Postecoglou names his proudest moment at Celtic after 100 games.