Cowdenbeath 3 Celtic B 3

Lowland League

This was a real thriller, played in driving rain, and a match which produced some good goals and a lot of fine attacking moves.

The weather was truly appalling at Central Park on Saturday, but the young players on both sides didn’t let it bother them as they produced a number of fine openings.

Being a goal adrift, with just under half an hour to go, Cowden made a four-man substitution which saw Adam MacDonald, Lucas Berry, Scott Walker and Cieran Chalmers go into the game, and it saw the Blues take command of the match.

They went into the lead, but with only six minutes left on the clock, Celtic were awarded a penalty for hand ball, after a cross was thrown into the home box, and the Cowdenbeath players were left bemused by the decision.

However, the penalty was converted and the game ended level, and few could argue it was not a fair result.

Celtic threatened in the second minute when Lewis Dobbie made a strong run into the home box and his low shot hit Greg MacPherson and rolled inches wide of Craig Hepburn’s right-hand post.

Then in nine minutes the visitors went ahead. Celtic B skipper MacKenzie Carse made a break through the Cowden midfield, and unleashed a 25 yarder which flew high into the net.

However, four minutes later the Blue Brazil levelled. Jack Tait latched onto a loose ball in midfield and and his cross was perfect for Mattie McDonald to prod the ball into the net from seven yards range.

Both teams were breaking fast from midfield and in 33 minutes Celtic re-took the lead when Rocco Vata got clear of the Cowdenbeath defence and his finish from 17 yards was clinical.

Cowden tried to get back into the game, and Gregor Jordan was unlucky with a header from eight yards which went just wide.

Cowden started the second period well and Zac Butterworth broke through and his pass set up McDonald and his 16-yard shot brought out a good save from visiting goalkeeper Joe Morrison, then the ‘keeper held a Jamie Docherty 18 yarder in 55 minutes.

However, two minutes later Celtic threatened when Jude Bonnar got into a good position and his left foot shot was held by Hepburn.

In 62 minutes the four-man substitution took place and Cowden started to take charge, then two minute later, Morrison made a finger-tip save from MacDonald’s 14 yard shot, which stayed out via the crossbar.

Cowden made it 2-2 in 73 minutes when a long free-kick into the Celtic box was dropped by Morrison, and Jordan was lying handy to fire the ball into the net.

Then the Blues it 3-2 with ten minutes to go with a good finish from 12 yards by Chalmers, but within four minutes it was 3-3, when Celtic were awarded a penalty for hand ball after a cross into the home box, and Carse converted to square an entertaining game.

Cowdenbeath: Hepburn; G MacPherson, Tait (Walker 62), Jordan, McNab, McLaughlin (Chalmers 62), Butterworth, McDonald, E MacPherson, Jack (MacDonald 62), Docherty (Berry 62). Subs not used, Cunningham, Trialist and Blair (gk).

Celtic B: Morrison; MacKenzie, Frame, Donovan (Bonetig 42), Agbaire, Ure (Osagie 76), Vata, Carse, Dobbie (Thomson 76), Kellly, Bonnar (Quinn 59). Subs not used, Davison, Cummings and McLean (gk).

Referee: Greg Soutar.

Attendance: 261.