Glasgow Cup, Lennoxtown, Tuesday, 28 February, 2023
CELTIC 2-0 QUEEN’S PARK
Scorers: Summers 37 mins, Letsosa 89 mins.
No matter which side is representing the club it seems Celtic just can’t stop winning at the moment…
Celtic B followed on from two wins in seven days last week with a Glasgow Derby win of their own with a superb 2-0 Glasgow Cup win over Queen’s Park at Lennoxtown yesterday.
Goals from Ben Summers eight minutes prior to the half-time break and a last-minute strike from Tsoanelo Letsosa, saw Celtic defeat the Championship side for a second successive Glasgow Cup win following the Hoops 1-0 win over Clyde last time out.
Celtic were quick out the traps in this one forcing their Championship opponents onto the back foot from the off, as both Ben Summers and Adam Brook influenced proceedings early on, with Summers offering an early warning of what was to come with a driven effort forcing Queens Park to block.
Despite Celtic’s fine start both teams shared possession without either side looking particularly likely to score, but that was to change in the final 15 minutes of the first half.
Firstly, Queens Park struck the inside of the post with a deflected shot from distance that Celtic ‘keeper Josh Clarke had to be alert to, to stop Celtic going a goal behind, before Mackenzie Carse – Celtic’s goal hero against Clyde – was unlucky not to make it two Glasgow Cup goals on the trot.
However, Carse’s strike was a warning Queens Park chose not to heed and Ben Summers clever control on the edge of the area fashioned him the space to drive for goal from distance and put the young Celts in a goal to the good at half-time.
Celtic B started the second 45 minutes strongly with Brooks run and hanging cross nearly causing Queen Park to put the ball into their own net via the post, and both Joey Dawson and Tsoanelo Letsosa spurned good opportunities to extend Celtic’s lead.
And that was enough to kick Queens Park back into action and they really should have scored as the game moved its final third. Queen’s Scott Williamson managed to fashion space down Celtic’s right side of defence, then managed to round Josh Clarke in the Celtic goal, but despite managing to lay the ball off no-one could finish off the move, but it was clear Celtic may not be able to rely on one goal to secure the win.
With Letosa moving into the striker’s position to replace Joey Dawson, the youngster had a few sights of goal without any success but did evidence the ‘we never stop’ mantra Ange Postecoglou is so keen for the young Hoops to replicate by getting his rewards for his endeavour with a last-minute clincher for the Celtic on the half volley.
The win over Queens Park saw Stephen McManus and Darren O’Dea’s youngsters win back-to-back Glasgow Cup fixtures, and continues an impressive week for Celtic following big Glasgow Derby wins for Fran Alonso’s Celtic FC Women’s side and Ange Postecoglou’s retention of the League Cup with Sunday’s resounding Hampden win.
O’Dea stated post-match he was pleased with the team’s performance telling Celtic TV “I was really pleased they took the information on and implemented that.”
🗣️ “I was really pleased they took the information on and implemented that.”
🎙️ On the Match with Darren O’Dea.#CELQUE | #GlasgowCup | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/S5n7ZRe2D2
— Celtic FC B (@CelticFCB) February 28, 2023
Meanwhile Man of the match Ben Summers was also delighted with the result and the performance against a Championship side. “It’s really good coming up against different challenges” pointing to the fact Queens Park are a championship side and perhaps a higher level of opponent than Celtic would normally face in the fifth tier Lowland League.
🗣️ “It’s really good coming up against different challenges.”
🎙️ On the Match with Ben Summers.#CELQUE | #GlasgowCup | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/wfCGn4a1aI
— Celtic FC B (@CelticFCB) February 28, 2023
It certainly appears all three of Celtic’s teams are peaking at just the right time, as we enter the business end of the season.
It really is a good time to be a Celtic fan!
Niall J
