The ruthless Hoops pushed relegation-contenders Montrose aside as Celtic FC Women put NINE goals past the visitors. What a way to kick off 2024 by putting on a show in our first home game of the calendar year.
With only four minutes of the game played, Shen Menglu opened the scoring with a fantastic strike into the top corner of the net.
The early lead pushed us forward and before long, Amy Gallacher was played in behind the Montrose defence. The forward took the ball round the goalkeeper and slotted into an empty net to double our advantage.
With 23 minutes gone, Tiree Burchill got her first goal of the afternoon. A brilliant cross from Caitlin Hayes to the back post found Burchill, who was in position to smash it into the net. She almost got a second minutes later when her strike battered off the crossbar.
She would get her brace as the second half got underway. Gallacher sent an accurate cross towards the back post and Burchill got on the end of it, heading it past the goalkeeper for the Celts’ fourth.
Colette Cavanagh was next to get her name on the scoresheet as the ball fell to her following a corner. She unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the area and found the back of the net.
The skipper also got her goal as a free kick to the front post was headed home by Kelly Clark.
With 13 minutes left to play, Gallacher secured her brace as she tucked a Cavanagh cross into the bottom corner.
More joy for Celtic fans following the goal as Lucy Ashworth-Clifford returned to the pitch for the first time in over a year. She also made an immediate impact too as she came close to finding the back of the net.
As time was running out, Sydney Cummings scored her second goal in two games after her phenomenal strike against Ayr United. Hayes came close as her header hit the crossbar, but the ball eventually fell to Cummings, who was able to find the bottom corner.
The final goal of the afternoon came in the 94th minute, as Gallacher unselfishly set up substitute Murphy Agnew, who slotted home.
Following her return to action, LAC spoke to Celtic TV. She said: “The girls have been there for me throughout the whole journey since I’ve been out. So I can’t thank them enough. Games like these are what we need going into big games like (the)Rangers and City, so it gives us a bit of a confidence boost.”
David Haley reflected on his last game in charge of the Hoops. He said: “It’s great to get nine goals. I can’t be overly critical.
“We’ve got so many different goal scorers and so many different ways of scoring. It was great to see that out there today. Big week ahead. An important game against (the)Rangers coming up on Friday. The girls will prepare as normal, and we’ve got Elena starting on Monday. I’m sure she’ll come in and make a positive impact.”
Huge props to Haley, as he has done very well when called upon and kept us on track, even if it was only for two games. I, for once, am very excited for the Elena era to begin on Friday!
No Kit Loferski on the bench again today, by the way. Let’s hope we’ll see her against theRangers, or at least when we return to league action on 28 January. Nothing has been said about if she is fit or not, but we’ll provide you with any updates when they happen.
We currently sit second in the SWPL1 table, three points behind theRangers, who won 10-0 today. Let’s hope the Ghirls can get one over our rivals on Friday by knocking them out of the Sky Sports Cup at the Excelsior.
You can buy tickets for the semi-final against theRangers here. Season tickets are valid for the fixture. The game will also be broadcast on BBC Alba. If you can, get down to Airdrie and back the boss in her debut game! Let’s hope she can start off her run with a solid victory to get the fans buzzing.
Jessica Elliott
THE CELTIC STAR PHOTO GALLERY FROM CELTIC FC WOMEN 9-0 MONTROSE
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE…
