The Light Blues went ahead twice in the game, with Charlie McCann and James Graham scoring in either half, but a late flurry of goals from the hosts condemned the young Gers to defeat in their final outing of 2022.
David McCallum named four changes to his side from the clash with Hearts B last time out, with McCann coming into the starting lineup alongside Lewis MacKinnon, Greig Allen and Bailey Rice.
There was a minute’s silence prior to kick-off to honour the legendary Brazilian, Pele, after his passing yesterday aged 82.
The Gers enjoyed the upper hand in the opening exchanges of the contest, forcing the home side into a mix-up in defence before Ross McCausland’s half-volley was blocked en route to goal by Bosun Lawal.
An opener almost arrived on ten minutes after a sweeping move down the right. Connor Allan showed tremendous anticipation to steal the ball high up the pitch before swiftly moving possession onto Robbie Ure. The forward lifted his head at the byline and drilled the ball across to Zak Lovelace, but the Celtic defence cleared the danger before it reached the Englishman.
However, Rangers’ early endeavour was duly rewarded in the 13th minute. Arron Lyall slid a gorgeous through pass to Lovelace inside the penalty area, chopping the ball onto his right foot before he was felled by an overeager sliding challenge. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot and Charlie McCann made no mistake from 12 yards, sending Tobi Oluwayemi in the wrong direction.
The Light Blues certainly had their tails up following the goal, with McCann going close once again as he worked the Celtic goalkeeper with a driven effort after Lovelace held the ball in commendably.
The hosts briefly threatened just shy of the 20th minute mark, with Rocco Vata overhitting a square pass that was directed towards Adam Brooks inside the danger area.
Robbie Fraser then displayed impressive recovery pace to deny Vata after the Celtic wide man was released down the right-hand side and appeared primed to unleash at goal.
Rangers were pegged back seven minutes before the interval. Ben Summers, who had earlier called Lewis Budinauckas into a smart stop at his near post, worked his way into a crossing position on the left before picking out Vata, sweeping his finish high into the roof of the net after peeling around to the penalty spot.
There was still time in the half for the Gers to fashion a promising opportunity. The ball was swept across the pitch after a well-worked sequence down the right, falling to McCausland who quickly shifted the ball onto his right-foot and curled a dangerous effort that required Oluwayemi to push the ball away to safety.
The Gers immediately threatened after the restart, with Ure meeting McCann’s free-kick from the left but steering his header off target.
The threat of Rangers in transitional opportunities was underlined minutes later after Lovelace was freed in-behind the Celtic defence. The 16-year-old hared towards goal, slowing his momentum at just the right time, but he was unable to sort his feet out for the resulting finish.
Ure then went close on the hour-mark as the Light Blues attacked with a purpose, heading wide after Fraser stood up an inviting cross from the left byline.
McCallum had sent for Charlie Lindsay just moments before, with the Northern Irishman calling the Celtic goalkeeper into action from a tight angle after Lyall had danced his way menacingly into the danger area.
Rangers continued to attack with authority and went agonisingly close in the 67th minute. McCann was released down the right as the away side broke forward on a counter-attack, picking out substitute James Graham whose effort deflected into the grateful arms of Oluwayemi.
The Gers forward wasn’t to be denied minutes later, however, as he restored his side’s advantage. Leveraging his pace to spring in-behind the Celtic backline with only the goalkeeper to beat, he composed himself before slotting a calm finish into the bottom corner.
Celtic responded immediately to restore parity in the game, with Mackenzie Carse poking a finish into the far corner after the home side had gotten bodies forward.
Budinauckas turned Vata’s strike round for a corner shortly after, before the home side went ahead for the first time in the afternoon. After advancing down the right, McCann unfortunately turned the resulting cut-back into his own net.
Connor Young and Jack Harkness entered the fray for Rangers three minutes from time, but the home side stretched their advantage further in the dying embers of the game as Joey Dawson headed home from a rebound before adding his second of the match in stoppage time.
CELTIC B: Oluwayemi, McPherson, Otoo, Lawal, Corr, Carse, Vata, Summers (Murphy, 67), Brooks (Quinn, 61), Letsosa, Davidson (Dawson, 89)
Subs not used: Dede, Clarke, Mackenzie, Thomson
RANGERS B: Budinauckas, Allan, MacKinnon, Allen (Fraser, 87), Fraser, Rice, McCann, Lyall (Young, 87), McCausland (Lindsay, 56), Lovelace (Graham, 66), Ure
Subs not used: Pazikas, Yfeko, Strachan
REFEREE: George Calder
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