However they almost began in sensational fashion when Sean Armstrong - one of their plethora of summer signings - volleyed over from the edge of the area with barely a minute on the clock.

Not long after at the other end David Ward tested Alex Spackman with a low left-foot effort from the right.

The rest of the first half, unfortunately, failed to live up to this promise and turned into somewhat of a scrappy affair.

The deadlock was eventually broken five minutes after the restart when Ward, making his competitive debut following his move from Armagh City, slotted the ball under the advancing keeper into the bottom left corner.

Then, on 67 minutes, Paul Donegan made it 2-0 when he rose unchallenged to nod home a Ward corner.

Celtic hit back with 11 minutes remaining to set up the proverbial grandstand finish.