Celtic started with Scotland keeper Rab Douglas in goal. Allan Thomson, Steve Guppy, young Dundonian Mark Fotheringham, David Fernandez, Bobby Petta, all players with bags of first team experience were also in action. It's a long time since Tom Boyd was 21, but the aging defender showed great experience and this was the difference between the sides. It was, quite simply, boys against men.
When Bryan Prunty gave Celtic the lead in the 10th minute it was looking ominous for the young dark blues but they equalise in fine style not long after. Burchill and Lovell combine for the latter to send a rocket goalwards. The ball strikes the bar, Celtic's defence are slow to clear the action and in steps KRISTOFER BRASH to crash a great shot underneath the crossbar.
Dundee's comeback doesn't last long when Dundee kid MARK FOTHERINGHAM slots a lef foot rocket past Langfield to make it 2-1 Celtic.
The second half sees a lesson in passing, off the ball running and how to make the ball do the work, from Celtic. Some of the skill on display was terrific to watch and the Dundee kids had to do just that. Hopefully they'll have learned from this display. BOBBY PETTA adds to the lead with an angled drive that certainly did not lack power and fair thundered home. STEVE GUPPY makes it 4 with a shot from a tight angle that Langfield should have saved but perhaps had his view blocked by defenders in front of him.
A ray of hope for Dundee when Lovell sent MARK BURCHILL in on goal. Racing in from the left he is too fast to catch and he slots a great left foot shot into the far corner of the net to make the score 4-2.
But the kids are tiring now and Celtic add 3 more goals, first DAVID FERNANDEZ, then a late couple from STEVE GUPPY on the right.
Dundee played most of the kids who had taken them to second place in the Under-21 league. Celtic chose to leave a lot of their usual players out and bring in experienced heads. Full marks to Dundee for playing the game in the right spirit, though the opposition was far too strong in the end.