Bellamy hat-trick sends Celtic clear

By Alex O'Henley

Craig Bellamy hit a hat-trick as Celtic FC returned to the top of the Scottish Premier League after a dramatic 3-2 victory against bottom side Dundee United FC.

Unstoppable shot
With Rangers FC playing in the League Cup final on Sunday, Martin O'Neill's side had an opportunity to move two points clear of their title rivals and they signalled their intent as early as the fifth minute when Bellamy fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

McIntyre equaliser
Jim McIntyre brought United back into contention on 23 minutes when he latched on to goalkeeper Tony Bullock's long kick and volleyed in from ten metres, but ten minutes later Bellamy, on loan from Newcastle United FC, restored Celtic's lead with a turn and shot from an acute angle inside the box.

Bellamy hat-trick
The home side looked to have secured a point when Barry Robson fired another long-range shot past Robert Douglas with 19 minutes remaining, only for Bellamy to grab all three points for Celtic with a left-foot strike from substitute Chris Sutton's flick-on. Douglas denied Robson with a superb save in injury time to ensure that Celtic moved back into pole position on 77 points.

Dundee draw
The battle for third place took another twist with Aberdeen FC dropping two points at home to Dundee FC. Noel Whelan looked to have given the Dons victory with a superb chipped shot from 25 metres on 63 minutes, but Tam McManus cancelled it out with a close-range effort 16 minutes from time to extend Dundee's eleven-year unbeaten run at Pittodrie.

Hibs climb
That result allowed Hibernian FC to move back into third following their 4-1 away win against Dunfermline Athletic FC. Barry Nicholson gave the Pars an early lead but two goals each from Derek Riordan and substitute Steven Whittaker gave the Easter Road side a comfortable win.

Hearts joy
Heart of Midlothian FC are also back in the hunt for a UEFA Cup place after defeating relegation candidates Livingston FC 3-1 at Tynecastle. Jason Dair cancelled out Lee Miller's opener for Hearts on the stroke of half time, but second-half goals from Mark Burchill and Robbie Nielson gave Hearts all three points, moving them to within four points of fourth-placed Aberdeen.