Celtic 2 Hibernian 1…
Celtic headed into today’s SWPL Cup semi-final, up against Cup specialists and 4 in a row cup holders Hibernian, at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling with a final place against Glasgow City awaiting. Sounds good right? Certainly. Was it simple? Nope!
So, what do you do when you are up against four years of history, lose your goalkeeper pre-match, have your head coach go all self-indulgent – yet again – with his starting line-up, and then go a goal behind within 10 minutes?
Well, I guess you re-group and produce something that smells a little bit like team spirit. And that is exactly what Celtic did today, as they overcame early disappointment and a team selection lacking balance, yet somehow amongst all of that, and on the back of a Glasgow Derby defeat seven days ago, produced the goods to put the Hoops into a Cup-Final and a chance of the first silverware of the season. All’s well that ends well of course but what a journey it was. Much of it unnecessary.
In an encounter that was always going to be a challenging affair, Celtic after all had needed a late Charlie Wellings winner to secure the points when the sides met previously in SWPL action, the Hoops relied once again to their brilliant striker to bring home the bacon having starved her of supply all afternoon. Indeed, for Wellings read Kyogo when it comes to the essential need for a talismanic striker. The comparison is there for all to see.
In a first half where Celtic dominated possession of the ball, yet created little of note with it, bar a 2nd Minute Welling’s attempt parried by English in the Hibs goal, and the opposition a Gallagher angled shot that went over. The standout moment was 12th minute lead supplied by Hibs as Alexa Coyle turned creator.
Under too little pressure from Kelly Clark, Coyle found Adams, and after patient possession on the edge of the box, Adams in turn fed Rachel Boyle who immediately unleashed a screamer of an effort past Rachael Johnstone, who didn’t stand a chance, as the ball landed in the postage stamp of the ‘keeper’s top left corner.
📹 Captain @kellyclark_94 speaking after their semi-final win over Hibs and pays tribute to Lisbon Lion and Celtic legend Bertie Auld.
🗣️ “It’s very sad news and we’ve done what we could’ve done today and got the win for him.”#CELHIB 🍀 @CelticTV pic.twitter.com/nvMaco31PT
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) November 14, 2021
There was little between the sides in that first half and clear chances were virtually non-existent. Whilst Celtic were dominant physically and in possession, Hibs Rotational play was far superior to the Celts as they won more second balls and looked far more progressive on the counter than Celtic ever did building from the back.
Jacynta and Wellings at least looked as if they could fashion opportunities, but it was individuality rather than team play that led to both players fashioning opportunities, as both snapped efforts that English handled easily.
Celtic’s issue was very much a lack of balance and acceleration if not pace.
Out wide Celtic had Chloe Craig, assured as a defender but lacking a left foot to impact proceedings with Rachel Donaldson further forward on the left, however both were right footed and my word it showed.
Meanwhile in the middle both Tyler Toland and Olivia Chance were defensively sound but lacking in creative endeavour to feed Wellings, Larisey and Jacynta, who regularly dropped back, looking to create for themselves and allowed Hibs to squeeze the game into tight areas. All very good from a Hibs perspective, yet all self-inflicted from Celtic and particularly by Alonso’s first XI decisions.
Celtic Looked to address the issue at half time as Tegan Bowie and Mengyu Shen were added to the fray at the expense of Donaldson and Larisey, as Fran Alonso kept his side indoors listening to orders as his opponents waited patiently on the Forthbank pitch. Perhaps he was just communicating his first half decisions and apologising profusely.
And immediately Jacynta’s right foot drive bounced in front of Hibs ‘keeper English, who mis-read the flight and allowed the ball to bounce over into the net, reminiscent of a Jenna Fife effort to save from Wellings just a fortnight prior. Celtic then were level within a minute of the re-start via excellent support play from both Shen and Bowie. Amazing what a bit of balance can do to a team, is it not Fran?
Celtic then survived a somewhat desperate call for a penalty that was textbook simulation, before Shen let her feet question her reasoning for being benched as she fed Jodie Bartle who drove a drilled effort wide of the post.
Hibs had their own moments as Coyle headed over from a corner kick but by now Celtic’s balance in the middle and out wide was bringing an assuredness to the play that had been left wanting in the first half of square pegs in round holes.
The winner already looked on the cards as Jacynta hit a long-range drive after quick feet fashioned the space on the edge of the box. However, as that effort headed into the night sky it was only moments to wait before a cup final place was assured, when the desperately underfunded Charlie Wellings struck a right footed drive into the top corner after determined support play from both Jodie Bartle and substitute Kathleen McGovern.
There was still a last chance to make the score comfortable as Bowie – yet again the impact sub of note – linked with Wellings who saw a 20-yard effort parried by English and by now Celtic were cruising.
So, the Hoops head for a Cup Final meeting with Glasgow City next month and a chance for Fran Alonso and his charges to bring home the silverware to match their endeavours in recent months.
However, this encounter was closer than needed to be. And much of that ultimate success was down to the smell of team spirit from the players, as yet again Fran Alonso tested his side with somewhat questionable team selections and unnecessary tactical gambles. Gambles that allowed an opposition to flourish and a star striker to look isolated before Wellings won the day and saved Fran Alonso from looking a proper Charlie.
Celtic: Johnstone; Hayes, Clark (Shorts, 76), Craig; Bartle, Toland (McGovern, 76), Chance, Donaldson (Shen, 46); Larisey (Bowie, 46), Jacynta (Atkinson, 90); Wellings
Hibernian: English; Boyle, Murray, Eddie, Muir; Cavanagh, Notley, McGregor (Malone, 66), Gallacher (Leishman, 86); Coyle, Adams (Morrison, 78)
Niall J
“closer than it needed to be”
I see the utter arrogance has followed from the men’s game.
Hibs women are a very good side. Show some class.
I was at the game yesterday and thought that Hibs were the better side in the first half and scored a brilliant goal to give them the lead. Celtic were never out of it though and with a few tactical adjustments and substitutions they dominated the second half, doing enough to justify the win. Hibs can have no complaints as the more deserving team on the day won the match. I think the point you have taken exception to relates to Hibs sliding from one of the two top sides in the Scottish game to the best of the rest after the top three go clear yet again, although after the last two league results a worrying gap has started to open up between theRangers and Glasgow City and Celtic but there’s time to do something about that starting with the next match against Aberdeen.
You state that Celtic lost a goal inside 10 minutes then tell us Hibs scored in 12 minutes.Postage stamp goals scored are top right of the goals not screamers into the top left? You have been critical of Fran over the last few weeks but I see a coaching team that are passionate and not slow to change things quickly when it’s apparent Plan A isn’t working…..
Fair points all Rob, and you are right Alonso and his team do often react when Plan A isn’t working.
There is no intention to be over-critical for the sake of it, these post match reports are done during and after the game and as such reactionary in nature and when the emotion of the match is still fresh.
I’ve given Alonso plenty of praise in the past and the players too, if I’m critical it comes from wanting Celtic to be the best they can be and not soft soaping it when I feel we could have avoided half-time interventions with less squad rotation and players playing in their best positions on too many occasions this season. But it’s all a game of opinions, debate is healthy, and Fran has forgotten more about football than I’ll probably ever know. He probably doesn’t piss off Royal Mail by putting his stamps in the wrong corner of his envelopes either!
The support yesterday were in the main stand at the far side with the two benches at the other side and that’s were the SWPL had the media too. There were a number of media from Celtic and some of the papers were there, and I was sitting with an entire section of the stand to myself and got a great view of all three goals. The Hibs goal I thought was the pick of the three – an outstanding build-up and an even better finish, so credit where it is due. The sight and sound of Fran Alonso sprinting down the touchline like a madman after Charlie Wellings got the winner was the highlight of the day.