• Vale of Leithen 2
  • Celtic XI 4

A YOUTHFUL Celtic showed on Sunday that the future of Scottish football is bright.

But there was just as much encouragement for the home fans over the more impending concerns as Vale showed tenacity and fitness ahead of their Lowland League campaign.

A few costly mistakes in the first half gave the Hoops a commanding three goal advantage at the break.

And some defensive indecision presented them with a fourth before the hour.

But the closing stages of the friendly belonged to the home team - much to manager, Chris Anderson's delight. He said: "If you make a mistake against boys of this quality you get punished and we were punished all three times in the first half.

"The main objective of today's game was a fitness test and we got that.

"I was pleased with the effort and we managed to create a number of opportunities. It is always good to score goals and on another day we could have had a few more.

"We'll tighten up at the back although we probably won't get closed down as quickly as we did during the league matches."

Celtic's youngsters were quick and eager from the kick off leading to several rushed home passes out of defence.

Thomas Caffrey beat Jamie Shiel early on.

And the talented teenager doubled the advantage with calmly taken second before the half hour.

Only a tremendous reaction save from Ryan Mullen prevented an own goal as half time approached.

But there was still time for some hesitating in the Vale backline for Broque Watson to score Celtic's third.

The Glasgow side went four up on 57 minutes after the Victoria Park side failed to clear a corner and Kieran Penman poked the ball home from close range.

Vale, who had attempted to play a high-tempo passing game all afternoon, began to find their own spaces in the Celtic defence.

And they twice went close in the space of five minutes.

Keith Mcleod's super cut back to Matt Underhill was then squared to Sean Stewart in front of goal only for a lunged block on the line preventing the ball finding the net.

Brendan Edwards also picked out Stewart with a tremendous pass but the striker's angled shot whizzed across the face of goal.

Celtic still looked dangerous on the break and James Elliot made a great recovery tackle to prevent Lewis Bell putting them five up.

Underhill pulled a goal back on 84 minutes as he robbed Wallace Duffy on the flank and chipped Michael McLaughlin from 25 yards.

Tommy Patterson's lung-bursting run from his own box on 88 minutes led to Vale's second.

The resultant corner from Jay Stevens was headed home by Elliot.

The home team could even have closed the gap more deep in injury time following another great run from Stevens but his pass was slammed wide by Stewart with the goal at his mercy.

Vale of Leithen: J Sheill, R Manson, R Brady, M Hutchinson, J Elliot, B McGregor, J Stevens, A Hunter, B Atkinson, K McLeod & L McIntosh. Subs B Edwards, S Stewart, M Underhill, K Boyes, J Scott-Mercer, T Patterson & A McQueen.