CELTIC 3 - HIBERNIAN 2

ITis a rarity that Scottish football throws up an encounter to make the purists quiver in anticipation, even more seldom that it lives up to expectations.

This captivating encounter was as close as we're likely to get for a while. Celtic's marginal superiority may have eventually manifested itself in the scoreline, but no-one was left unfulfilled after a fascinating tussle, particularly during the second half, which went some way to restoring a little faith in our national game.

It may have been hard to quibble with John Hartson's man-of-the-match award for a predatory brace, but the game's outstanding performers told its own story about how this match unfolded: Shunsuke Nakamura, Shaun Maloney and Aiden McGeady were all pivotal for the home side, with Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson and Guillaume Beuzelin adding panache and incisiveness for the visitors.

The latter trio form an eyecatching midfield triumvirate for Hibernian with Thomson, in particular, looking as if he has rediscovered the precocity he showed before his cruciate injury. With his great vision, sumptuous technique and an appetite for carefree incursions into the final third, Thomson is a gem of a midfielder.

Seasoned observers believe that he may even be the pick of Easter Road's own version of the Bash Street Kids, though Brown, who seems to have finally shed the self-destructive stubbornness in his game, is not far behind.

And what of Steven Fletcher? Another spiky-haired waif with a healthy disregard for reputations, this 18-year-old put Hibs in front in the 52nd minute with a curling shot from the left angle of the box - using the outside of his left boot - which arced beyond the grasp of Artur Boruc.

The Easter Road conveyor belt just keeps churning them out. "Last year he played a few and scored some good goals and this year he's held him back a bit, " said Gary Caldwell, the Hibs captain, on manager Tony Mowbray's treatment of Fletcher. "But he's definitely a big talent, he's only 18, and apart from his goal I thought he played very well. He's going to have a big future."

In light of the youthfulness of Hibs, it is too easy to overlook the growing inf luence of young Scots in Gordon Strachan's side. Maloney turned in yet another impish display as Hartson's sidekick in attack, embellished by a trademark free-kick which drew Celtic level just four minutes after Fletcher's counter.

Ross Wallace, whom Strachan is diligently trying to convert to an attacking leftback, worked tirelessly to extinguish the threat of Derek Riordan in the first half. When you take Stephen McManus, the centre-half, into account, the prediction of Tommy Burns in The Herald earlier this year that the club's youth academy is capable of providing 50per cent of the first team over the next five years looks eminently possible.

It is Burns' superior in the Scotland set-up, Walter Smith, who will benefit from the work being done at both Hibs and Celtic. 13 of the starting 22 on Saturday were Scots (nine Hibs; four Celtic - excluding Scots-born McGeady who represents the Republic of Ireland), with the introduction of the visitors' Jamie McCluskey and Stephen Pearson, of Celtic, after the break swelling that total to 15.

"It's difficult here because the expectation is massive, but we've got great kids, " reflected Neil Lennon, Celtic's captain. "They handle it really well and I thought McGeady and Shaun [Maloney] in the first half caused them a lot of problems. Shaun scored a great goal in the second half to get us back in the game and I'm delighted for them. Wee Ross Wallace has had to come in and play a totally different position and acquitted himself very well."

Nakamura continues to burnish his reputation as a footballer of subtlety and class. Saturday was anothermasterclass from the Japanese playmaker. He was the architect of the opening goal five minutes before half time, dropping a cute free kick onto Hartson's head, the Welshman steering it past ZbigniewMalkowski, the visitors' goalkeeper.

He also played a key role in bringing his side back into the game after two rapier thrusts from Hibs, in the shape of a Beuzelin header and Fletcher's strike, had given them an early second-half lead.

Nakamura was bodychecked on the edge of the box in the lead-up to Maloney's equalising free-kick and, inevitably, was involved in the eventual winner, in the 64th minute. He swept in a cross in from the right which Maloney connected with only to watch his angled shot come back off the post. Typically, Hartson was on hand to bundle home the winner.

"I really enjoy playing with him [Nakamura], " added Lennon. "You can give him the ball practically anywhere and he always seems to find a pass or a way out of a hole. He's brought a bit of creativity and freshness to the team. It's a different culture and climate for him but he's coped well.

"He's put in some great performances in both games against Rangers and Aberdeen last week and again today.

There's not much too him but he seems a fit boy and he's got his own personal trainer. He takes a few knocks but he gets up and gets on with it and his attitude is tremendous." FIGHTBACK: Gordon Strachan's side came from behind to secure victory. Picture: Mark Gibson