Darren O'Dea believes Celtic's B team rising stars will remember a dramatic derby win over Rangers for the rest of their lives.
The young Hoops twice came from behind - the second time with less than 20 minutes to play - to claim a stirring 5-2 victory in front of a noisy crowd at Celtic Park.
Goals from Rocco Vata, Mackenzie Carse, a Charlie McCann own goal and Joey Dawson's late double capped a memorable result for the academy hopefuls, one that closes them to within three points of their city rivals at the top of the Lowland League.
McCann and James Graham put Rangers ahead on two occasions, but an impressive Celtic rallied to score four times in the final 14 minutes to claim a victory B team coach O'Dea is confident will stay with them forever.
“I’m delighted for the staff, the players, their families and the supporters who came out," he said. "Myself and Stephen (McManus) preach that we judge them off performances, not results, but it’s very hard to not get sucked in by that today and be elated with it.
“But we are and we’ll let them enjoy it. It’s huge for them (to play at Celtic Park). It was edgy the first 15 minutes and that’s literally just from wanting to do well.
“They’ve got all their families there and a huge support alongside them. It takes time to get used to that.
“The crowd is a fraction of what is in Celtic Park at the weekend, but it’s a huge step for them. Ultimately, we don’t want to go behind, but the fact they went behind twice and still had the composure to settle themselves? They’ll remember that for the rest of their lives.
“This is a game they will remember in 10 years’ time when they’re having careers. It’s a huge, huge occasion to have for them.
“I’m grateful to the club for their support, there’s so many people behind the scenes who help put this on, it’s not just as simple as playing a game of football. I’m really happy.”
Celtic's youngsters were visited by first team manager Ange Postecoglou in the dressing room at full-time, a show of support O'Dea admits is "invaluable".
“He let us get on with it but came into the dressing room afterwards to see the players," he revealed. "I can’t tell you how much that means to everyone. Stephen and I were put in charge of this with the manager above us and the support he has given us has been incredible.
“The huge benefit we get is the access we have into the manager, getting to hear his ideas. That’s fantastic and I think we can take this on a lot more and I know the manager will want us to do that.
“His support and John Kennedy’s support today is invaluable. The players will feel that and certainly Stephen and I do, and hopefully we can repay that faith and trust by producing players for him.”
Rangers B manager David McCallum, meanwhile, feels his side failed to show 'concentration and personality' to see the game out.
He said: "Massive frustration, because we should never put ourselves from where we were to where we ended up. At 2-1, we looked really comfortable.
"The second-half, in spells, looked how we wanted it to look. We had a lot of control; created two, three, four really good chances. We don't take them.
"We spoke before the game about big games, big moments, big situations - that's where you've got to stand up. Those ones today, we look at the good chances we had, the mistake where they get back to 2-2.
"Suddenly, the game changes.
"As the game turned the way it did, it's concentration and personality at that point. It can't go from where we were, to where it finished."
