Trending
You are at:»»Celtic FC Women’s Champions League chances reduced after heavy defeat at the Rangers
Celtic FC Women

Celtic FC Women’s Champions League chances reduced after heavy defeat at the Rangers

By No Comments
IMAGO / Pro Sports Images Photo: Colin Poultney PSI

Match Report: theRangers 3 Celtic FC Women 0…

For Fran Alonso and Celtic this was a win or bust game. Today’s visit to Murray Park on SPFL1 duty saw the Hoops four points behind today’s opponents’ prior to kick off, and a win would have put Celtic within a point of the league leaders, with theRangers holding the advantage of having two further games in hand. Sadly, for Fran Alonso’s charges it simply wasn’t a story with a happy ending.

Celtic were bolstered by the return of top scorer Charlie Wellings to the starting line-up following injury, meanwhile Rachael Johnstone took up her place in goal following confirmation Chloe Logan’s injury sustained against Glasgow City was to be a long-term absence. Captain Kelly Clark was also an enforced absentee after international duty, as Chloe Craig picked up the armband.

Other than that Annie Timoney replaced Chloe Craig as right sided wing-back, as Craig moved into central defence and Tegan Bowie was also selected as the left sided wing back- with the only other real surprise in the starting line up the dropping of Jacynta to the bench as Mengyu Shen, who turned the Scottish Cup encounter between the sides in Celtic’s favour, moving to an attacking role in the starting line-up, as Liv Chance moved into to central midfield.

The first half in this one soon became a war of attrition, bar the opening ten minutes, where Celtic should have taken the lead before theRangers did.

Celtic had their best chance of the opening 45 minutes as early as the second minute, when Wellings and Larisey, always players on the same wavelength, combined well out wide, as Wellings superb first touch allowed the striker to bring Larisey into play before the final shot was dragged agonisingly wide, with Fyfe in theRangers goal looking well beaten.

From there it was fairly even in terms of exchanges as Arnott dragged a shot wide of Johnstone’s goal, before a Harkes free kick saw Chloe Craig head wide, with Caitlin Hayes possibly better positioned behind.

IMAGO / Pro Sports Images. A Jane Ross of theRangers Womens FC strike finds the far corner during the Scottish Womens Premier League 1 match between Rangers Women and Celtic Women on 27 February 2022. Photo: Colin Poultney PSI

Yet despite the even natured early exchanges, it was theRangers who took the lead as Jane Ross converted after good interplay from Brogan Hay and Nicola Ross saw a cross delivered into the box. It looked easy pickings for Chloe Craig, however, her deflected headed attempt to clear her lines caught out Hayes covering behind leaving Ross with enough time to take a touch before turning the ball home.

There was little between the sides as the half progressed with Celtic looking more comfortable in possession yet theRangers taking territorial advantage, with the only real chances of note for Celtic a Wellings shot after 33 minutes that was easily gathered by Fyfe, before Fran Alonso found himself cautioned for daring to question one of a series of midfield niggling tackles the referee chose to ignore.

For seven second half minutes Celtic started in the ascendency, with a series of assaults on theRangers goal culminating with a Charlie Wellings effort dragged wide. But from there it was all downhill for Celtic.

First, the ever-impressive Brogan Hay put theRangers two goals to the good after Lizzie Arnott and Jane Ross created the opportunity to score, and whilst initially defended well by the Hoops, Hay was on hand to finish easily beyond Johnstone – and ten minutes later the contest was over, as once again Hay instigated a move that saw Lizzie Arnott and Sam Wetsrup play their role before Jane Ross headed beyond Johnstone to put the game to bed.

There was still a chance for Celtic to save face as Wellings struck the bar, however, there was little else on offer from a Celtic side who looked out of their depth this afternoon.

Fran Alonso will now have to lift his troops for an increasingly unlikely attempt to gain second place in SWPL1 and the Champions League place that comes with it. But in terms of a league title tilt, it’s all over for Celtic this season. Yet with one domestic trophy in the bag and the Scottish Cup still to play for, the question is not whether Fran Alonso is up to lifting a league title, it’s more a question if those who back Celtic’s head coach have any real intention to support him with the means to do so.

It looks like the backing from the Ibrox boardroom for their women’s team has brought them their first ever title (55).

Niall J

More Stories / Celtic FC Women
Paradise Awaits: “The atmosphere that the fans created was sensational,”Amy Gallacher
Partick Thistle 0-5 Celtic FC Women – Doubles from Agnew and the Goal Machine
Caitlin Hayes and Tash Flint give Celtic FC Women the look of Champions

About Author

As a Bellshill Bhoy I was taken to my first Celtic game in the summer of 1987. It was Billy McNeill’s return to Celtic Park as manager and Celtic lost 5-1 to Arsenal . I thought I was a jinx, I think my Grandfather might have thought the same. It was the finest gift anyone ever gave me when he walked me through Parkhead's gates.

Related Posts

Comments are closed.