Celtic FC Women’s First Ever Match in Paradise – Exclusive Photos and Match Report

Celtic announced on Friday that two of the post-split SWPL1 matches will be played at Celtic Park. Over the past few season there have been some memorable women’s matches played at Paradise and Celtic have won them all!

However we bet you can’t remember the first Celtic FC Women’s match to be played at Celtic Park. You might think it was the 1-0 win over theRangers in the lock-down season but there was an earlier game and we thought we’d feature that today.

The game took place on Sunday 16 April 2017 at Celtic Park and the opponents were Stirling University. Here’s a match report and also exclusive photographs from the game, Celtic FC Women’s first ever match at Celtic Park.

If you know your history…

Scottish Women’s Premier League One, Celtic FC Women v Stirling University, Sunday 16 April 2017 at Celtic Park

Celtic 2-1 Stirling University 
Ross 37             Russell 90
Poucel 51

This much anticipated match at Celtic Park turned out to be an entertaining occasion with the Hoops largely in control throughout. Goals from Natalie Ross (one and the same!) and Jaclyn Poucel had put Celtic comfortably in control before a very late goal from the visitors caused unexpected excitement in the dying moments.

Celtic set the tone early in the game, pressing forward at every opportunity and using the unaccustomed width of the pitch to their advantage. During the first quarter of the match Heather Richards was the home side’s greatest threat as, time and again she put the University defence under pressure with her forceful, intelligent runs down the right touchline, and several menacing crosses and cut-backs.

Midfielders Ross and Darcy McFarlane also caught the eye, as they intelligently spread the ball wide to play in Richards and 16-year old Jamie-Lee Napier who was making her first start for the first team on the left.

Ruesha Littlejohn and Sarah Ewens both had shots at goal during this spell but did not trouble Stirling keeper Logan. Stirling, for their part, were able to mount several counterattacks at pace, but the Celtic defence were alert and snuffed out the danger before Megan Cunningham the Hoops’ goalkeeper had to be called into action.

With Richards’ early prominence, it was no surprise that she was the architect of Celtic’s opening goal. Following yet another drive to the bye-line, she carefully laid the ball back into the path of Ross who struck a fierce right-footed shot high into the net.

At that stage it looked as if Celtic would use their goal advantage and comfortable possession to increase their lead before half-time. Although they relentlessly drove forward, they were unable to stretch the Stirling defence. Richards and Napier were now seeing less of the ball and Celtic’s attacking through the middle bore no fruit and the score remained at 1-0 at the break.

Celtic continued to drive forward after the interval, winning some corners in the process. It was following one of these corners that they increased their lead. The initial delivery was well defended by the University, but after an exchange of passes in the Celtic midfield the ball was rolled out to Richards on the left and her inch-perfect delivery was flashed into the net from the head of Jaclyn Poucel who celebrated her first Celtic goal in some style.

After good play by Napier, Littlejohn saw a close-range shot come back off the post. Another shot from Richards, a long range strike from Napier and try from substitute Kirsty Howat all failed to increase Celtic’s lead as they continued to control the match and move forward at every opportunity.

The home side were reduced to ten players in 84 minutes when Littlejohn was shown a straight red card for words directed at the referee. At this stage there were signs of tiredness in both teams, but their numerical advantage encouraged Stirling to have a final surge. They were rewarded right on 90 minutes when Russell scored for them.

There was little time left for an upset, though, and Celtic continued their fine opening to the league season with all three points. Playing at Celtic Park was a great occasion for the players and spectators alike and clearly everyone very much enjoyed the experience.

Celtic FC Women: Cunningham, Hodges (Rafferty), Poucel, Clark, Ross, Montgomery, McFarlane, Ewens (Howat), Richards (Crilly), Napier, Littlejohn. Subs: Gibson, Dalgliesh, McBrearty, Whyte.

If any of the Celtic team playing that day or their families want some photos of this match please drop us an email and we’ll be delighted to forward. Email address is editor at thecelticstar dot com