by Joe McHugh Celtic's u-19 side showed great character to recover from being 4-1 down to beat Dundee United 5-4 to book a place in the semi final's of the SFA Youth Cup.
Filip Twardzik was the 88th minute hero to clinch the tie with Greg Spence, substitute Sean Fitzharris and two goal James Forrest also on the scoresheet.
Stevie Frail's side looked dead and buried when the homeside went 4-1 up early in the second-half but inspired by Fitzharris and Forrest switching to the left wing Celtic refused to give up and were rewarded in the end. Even allowing for the fact that they hadn't played a competitive game in two months it was a below par first-half performance from Celtic that United capitalised on to go in front.
Frail admitted: "We just didn't turn up for the first half and that was a real disappointment. We started sloppily then scored the first goal, lost an equaliser and that set us back.
"To be 3-1 down at half-time was a real sickener but it was all that we deserved. We had to rally them at half-time and told them that the next goal was all important!
"It was important because after going 4-1 down we could have gone one way or the other. Thankfully they dug in to win, I'm really pleased with them and proud of their performance."
There were wholesale changes to the defence with only Declan Gallacher playing in his usual role in the centre alongside captain Matt Hughes returning from injury.
Grant Gallacher moved over to right-back with Jordon Lowden replacing Kieron Brennan at left back in front of Andy Kennedy who took over in goals from Danielle Giordano.
Richie Towell moved from right back to centre midfield alongside former Derry City man Darren McCauley who was making his competitive debut. Twardzik started in front of the midfield with the usual forward selection of Forrest on the right, James Keatings on the left and Greg Spence through the centre.
In the eighteenth minute Celtic created their first chance of the day when Forrest and Twardzik opened up the home defence but Forrest's cross from the left was just too high for Spence in the six yard box.
Three minutes later Celtic went in front when United keeper Marc McCallum failed to hold a low drive from Lowdon with Spence perfectly placed to tuck away the rebound.
Unfortunately the lead only lasted two minutes with Kennedy at fault as Ross Smith outjumped him to a header in the six yard box following a cross from the left.
Within ten minutes Celtic managed to lose two more goals with Scott Allen powering in a great shot from 18 yards out before Dale Hilson shook off the Celtic defence before firing his low shot past Kennedy at the keeper's near post.
Celtic did come back into the match as the half closed with Keatings heading wide from six yards out following a cross from Declan Gallacher after the home side had failed to clear a corner from Forrest on the left.
For the second half Celtic made one change with Fitzharris replacing Lowden. Fitzharris moved into right midfield with Forrest swapping over to the left and Twardzik dropping to left-back. It looked to be all over in the 52nd minute when Michael Lee chipped Kennedy from 25 yards but two minutes later Fitzharris pulled a goal back when he netted on the half volley after Declan Gallacher nodded down a long throw from Towell.
Celtic were back in the game now with a fighting chance with the time wasting of the home side galvanising Frail's side with Fitzharris's direct running upsetting the United back four.
Fitzharris was at the heart of the action in the 64th minute when his shot was parried by McCallum with Forrest happy to net from the rebound.
United captain Smith was substituted suffering from cramp while Celtic sent on striker Johny Marsden to replace McCauley as they chased an equaliser.
Twardzik failed to make the most of a couple of inswinging free kicks from the right delivered with his left foot but he was to make ammends for that spectacularly before the end!
United coach Stevie Campbell was getting increasingly anxious as his side dropped deeper and deeper with his fears realised in the 86th minute when Forrest netted from a loose ball in the box although Spence was hovering around and attempting to put in a claim for the goal.
The homeside could have been back in front in the 87th minute but Kennedy produced a good block as the United bench screamed for a penalty which required the intervention of the referee before the corner could be taken.
Celtic broke quickly from the corner with Forrest releasing the ball to Twardzik as four Celtic players raced across the halfway line. Twardzik teed up Marsden for a shot at goal but when the keeper blocked the substitute's shot Twardzik kept his cool to drill the ball low into the net before being mobbed by celebrating team-mates.
After recent events it was a relief to see Celtic hold out through five minutes of additional time with Frail delighted by the attitude shown by his players. He said: "We know that we have got good footballers but when you come to tough places like this you have to battle and scratch.
"When you wear a Celtic jersey, whatever level it is at, teams want to beat you. A lot of our players are aware of that having come through the system at the club from an early age.
"At 4-1 they rolled their sleeves up, got the second goal, and although there was still a long way to go they came back to win 5-4 and I was very pleased for them."
CELTIC: Kennedy, G Gallacher, Hughes, D Gallacher, Lowdon; Forrest, Towell, McCauley, Twardzik; Forrest, Spence, Keatings SUBS Fitzharris (Lowdon 46) Marsden (McAuley69)
Goals: Spence 21, Fitzharris 54, Forrest 64 & 86, Twardzik 88
