By John Turnbull at the The Penny Cars Stadium
University of Stirling were undone by a clinical Celtic B performance in Airdrie on Sunday as the students lost 3-1.
Stirling gave a good account of themselves against a top side and showed their quality right from the off as Jamie Penker put the Uni ahead after four minutes.
The game was level heading into the break as Ben Summers found the equaliser, but a second half double from Adam Brooks handed the Old Firm side all three points.
Head coach Chris Geddes said: “We gave as good as we got. We understand they are going to have a lot of the ball and knock it around, but especially in the second half we had some good opportunities.
“I’m well proud of the boys today, we’ve lost nine goals in our last two, so a lot of people would think we’ll get stuffed today but we gave them a right scare.
“Playing on AstroTurf helps us so we can play out, but it obviously helps them as well because they are all really good football players.
“It was a good game and we were well impressed with what we did. We’re happy considering the last two league games, and we ran them close.
“It’s a challenge, we are playing against some of the best youth players in the country, but we have Pollock next week in the South Challenge Cup and then Loughborough in the BUCS, so we have two games the boys are really looking forward to.”
After progressing to the semi-finals of the British University Championships on Wednesday, a tough encounter with the Celtic youngsters was up next.
But the Uni put recent Lowland League disappointments behind them as Penker got his side off to a dream start.
Joel Taylor picked out a pinpoint pass over the defence for the striker to expertly guide his header over Oluwayemi in the Celtic goal.
Stirling had chances to extend their lead as James Berry had shots stopped from the edge of the area, but Celtic were back in the game on 25 minutes.
A well worked move by the home side was created by Ben Doak who done well to find Summers in the middle of the box for a straightforward tap in.
The students started the second half well but were made to pay as Celtic struck on the break. Summers turned provider as he fed Brooks through to slide home his first of the game.
Geddes side continued to apply pressure but the Glasgow side secured the win on 86 minutes. Mackenzie Carse done brilliantly to drive towards the Stirling box and assist Brooks for his second and Celtic’s third.
University of Stirling: Fry, Burrows (Rae 79’), Doan, Taylor, Lavery, Davidson, Berry, Jarvis (McGill 79’), Penker (Kennedy 90’), McGale (Thompson 90’), McArthur (Stokes 64’)
Celtic B: Oluwayemi, Dede, MacKenzie, Murray, Corr, Carse, Doak (Frame 90’), Summers (Ure 87’), Dawson (Vata 70’), Moffat, Brooks