It is strange to think that Jock Stein envisaged a Celtic B team playing in the lower leagues as far back as 1968 but was defeated by a vote from Partick Thistle wishing to protect footfall through their gates from Celtic fans unable to attend away games but looking for a Saturday football fix.
The recent announcement that both Celtic and theRangers would enter second string sides in the Scottish Lowland League had been met with a great deal of scrutiny, particularly by today’s opponents Bonnyrigg Rose who had 95% of their members vote against the proposal.
Reserve sides further down the pyramid is nothing new, with both Berwick and Hibs having entered sides in the East of Scotland league previously, however as much as the issue clearly remains as a divisive subject, some 53 years after Jock Stein’s initial proposal was voted down, it became a reality today.
It may not have been the top leagues in Scotland however Tommy McIntyre’s young charges kicked of a season today against a team expected to challenge at the top of the league table and in a competition containing many sides including today’s opponents who invest heavily, run their clubs prudently and contain a quality of player that would put many in the top divisions to shame.
Indeed, today’s opponents last played competitively six months ago as they took Scottish Premiership new boys Dundee to extra-time in the Scottish Cup Second Round at Dens Park.
As such Robbie Horn’s team were unlikely to fear a visit from a young Celtic side minus a good few still involved with Ange Postecoglou’s pre-season plans with the first team and with George Hunter, Lee Currie and Dean Brett, in their side Bonnyrigg Rose have a standard of player in their ranks to match any side in their Lowland League and perhaps some a little higher up the chain. This was going to be both a historic game and a baptism of fire for this Celtic team and so it proved as Celtic went down 2-1 at New Dundas Park this afternoon.
For Celtic new signing Bosun Lawal went straight into the team fresh from signing from Watford only yesterday as the Hoops lined up: Oluwayemi, Murphy, Lawal, Otto, Paterson, Wylie, Letsosa, Carse, Vata, Davidson and Dobbie and on the bench: Mullen, Robertson, Deane and Jackson, With Ewan Otoo captaining the side.
The first half began much as you’d expect with Bonnyrigg imposing their physicality on a young Celtic side and the Hoops trying to bring their technical proficiency to the fore. Yet despite an early opportunity passed into the six-yard box by Bruno Davidson, the next half hour was dominated by the strength experience and nous of Bonnyrigg.
First up Ewan Otoo had to be well positioned to block a goalward bound effort from the impressive McGachie before Lee Currie, Bonnyrigg’s most impressive performer, struck a 20-yard effort off the post.
The young Hoops were rocking but stuck to their principles and impressively held their shape. Celtic had ‘keeper Oluwayemi to thank for a smart save before a Young pass to Rose standout performer Lee Currie brought the opening goal with a stunning strike on the half volley which flew into the corner of the net with Oluwayemi left without a chance.
Bonnyrigg then struck the woodwork again as Bob Wilson went for goal from a Currie corner, but as the game reached the closing stages of the half Celtic started to settle into some kind of rhythm as new signing Lawal impressive in defence, Murphy on the right and Bruno Davidson all took turns to impress in possession, but it was Celtic striker Dobbie who could have grabbed an equaliser. First of all, on the break from a Bonnyrigg corner being charged down by the Celtic wall where Dobbie took a lovely first touch, lobbed his marker, and managed to get a left foot shot off that was sadly just too tame to trouble the ‘keeper, then again finding space two minutes later and looked well positioned to score before Bonnyrigg’s Bob Wilson closed him down.
However just as Celtic were thinking they may have cracked this game a McGachie drive just on half time had Oluwayemi scrambling to save and keep young minds focused.
The only controversial moment of the first half was a Bonnyrigg call for a straight red Card for Ben Wylie, who struggled a little with the physical nature of the midfield battle. Although his tackle was both forceful and poorly timed a yellow card was the correct decision.
Celtic then went in at the break a goal behind but could well be commended for sticking to a gameplan and for hanging in to an encounter that looked to be slipping from their control. In truth however if Celtic wanted to get back into this game it was going to take a lot more tempo to move their opponents around the pitch because as much as some of the play in possession was tidy it wasn’t quick enough and Bonnyrigg were always able to get back into shape.
In the second half Celtic immediately picked up the pace, however the loss of ‘keeper Oluwayemi was a blow as the impressive number one had to go off injured after a coming together with Paterson, and replacement goalkeeper Ryan Mullen almost immediately was picking the ball out the net as Bonnyrigg doubled their lead. The goal came from Brett run down Celtic’s left and Mullen could only palm the cross-ball ball away and Bonnyrigg’s Hunter reacted first to force the ball home.
Despite this setback Celtic continued with a much improved second half performance, not only were they zipping the ball around with far more intent they were also getting in the faces of the Rose players, something that had been missing in the opening period.
That improvement was rewarded as Celtic clawed their way back into the game as a lofted free kick found new signing Lawal unmarked at the back post who showed great composure to turn the ball home score a debut goal and half the Bonnyrigg lead.
And it could have been all level straight after as Paterson and Davidson linked up well on Celtic’s left wing, fashioned space in the box but sadly the finish didn’t match the class of the build-up play and the young Hoops were denied, as they were moments later as a well worked move saw the ball in the net only for the goal to be chalked off for offside, however this was Celtic’s best spell of the match and Vata followed up with an attempt that floated disappointingly over the bar.
99. FT HUNTER extended the lead in the second half before new Celtic signing LAWAL reduced the deficit. Celtic came into more in the second half. A few shaky moment but the 3 points is all that matters.
Bonnyrigg Rose 2 Celtic B 1#COTR🌹 pic.twitter.com/dDgaEpHVIJ— Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic (@BonnyriggRose) July 17, 2021
This was a great workout for Celtic’s young players, they were up against a physically imposing opponent and one expected to be challenging for honours. Despite going two goals behind Celtic showed great discipline, tactical awareness and belief in their instructions. Although it did resemble men against boys in the first half Celtic should take great pride from how they came out fighting in the second half.
If this is the standard of opponent indicative of the Lowland League, then Celtic’s youngsters can only gain from playing in such an environment week in week out.
It’s taken some 53 years for Jock Stein’s dream of seeing a Celtic B team plying their trade in the lower leagues but even after all this time you can see exactly why he saw the benefit of blooding Bhoys against men.
Particular standouts today were Ewan Otoo, Bosun Lawal and Broady Paterson, with Bruno Davidson and Dobbie also impressing. It may have been a defeat for Celtic at New Dundas Park today but the experience gained will go a long way in the development of Celtic’s youngsters. It certainly bodes well for the season ahead.
Niall J
