Cowdenbeath 0 Celtic B 3

Cowdenbeath turned in a very poor performance against the young Celts on Saturday despite a very good start to the match.

The Blue Brazil created several decent openings in the opening half hour but didn’t score and then gave away two bad goals before half-time.

After they were reduced to 10 men after the third goal went in, it was a damage limitation exercise as Cowden endured a bitterly disappointing defeat.

Cowdenbeath have been defending well at home this season, but this was a very poor show.

Some poor choices by players in difficult situations led to easy goals for Celtic B and they were in cruise control by the hour mark.

Manager Maurice Ross was left to reflect on what might have been if they had taken their early chances.

Cowden started brightly and in three minutes midfielder Stuart Love fired just wide, after Alfie Robinson’s header opened up the Celtic defence.

In 10 minutes the young Hoops got forward and a pass inside by Adam Brooks set up Joe Murphy, whose 18 yarder went wide of the target.

The Fifers then forced a corner and from Iain Davidson’s header Sean Slaven clipped the ball past the post from a good position.

However, in 22 minutes it was the visitors who took the lead.

From Lucas Berry’s slack pass, Mackenzie Carse let fly from 12 yards.

Danny Farrell pulled off a good save but Joe DAWSON was handily placed to turn the ball into the net from six yards out.

Back came Cowden and a Ewan Thomson free-kick fell perfectly for Robinson, but with just goalkeeper Josh Clarke to beat he headed wide from six yards.

Carse pounced on a slack clearance from the home side and his fierce drive flew inches wide.

Just before the break Celts doubled their lead when Cowden failed to cut out a Carse cross and Adam BROOKS turned the ball into the net.

Ten minutes into the second-half they went three up.

There seemed little danger when BROOKS picked up the ball 20 yards out, intercepting another loose pass from the Blues, but he sent an angled shot soaring past Farrell.

It only got worse for Ross' men when Thomson picked up a second yellow card and was ordered off.

Cowdenbeath kept working away and with six minutes to go, sub David Struthers worked some space for himself in the Celtic box but his shot went just wide.

It summed up the day for the Blues.

Cowdenbeath: Danny Farrell (7); Ewan Thomson (5), Sam Young (6) (Mackenzie Lemon 72 (3), Iain Davidson (7), Alfie Robinson (7), Lucas Berry (5) (Jack Garrad 61 (3)), Scott Walker (6), Stuart Love (6) (Dean Ritchie 61 (3)), Dan Watt (6) (Mikey Cunningham 61 (3)), Sean Slaven (5) (David Struthers 72 (3)), Sam Newman (6).

Subs not used, Jordan Armstrong and Jack Ruddy.

Celtic B: Clarke, McPherson, Mackenzie (Anderson 68), Lawal, Robertson (Agbaire 87), Murphy (Thomson 61), Brooks (Kelly 61), Carse, Dawson, Summers, Letsosa.

Subs not used: Morrison.

Referee: Andy Gamble (7).

Attendance: 322