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Celtic’s Title Charge – Watch the goals from Hoops 4-2 win over Glasgow City

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Fran Alonso.,IMAGO / Pro Sports Images Photo Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

The race for the SWPL1 title is back ON after a fabulous Celtic performance at Petershill Park that ended Glasgow City’s unbeaten run and had the away support doing the Huddle at the full-time whistle.

Fran Alonso knew that nothing less that a victory this afternoon would to all intents and purposes end the Hoops hopes of winning the SWPL title for the first time ever. City started brightly but after weathering a difficult first five minutes Celtic gained the upper hand in the match and deservedly ran out 4-2 winners.

It was a day of missed penalties for Celtic. Kyogo missed one earlier in the day in the 4-1 win at Kilmarnock but Fran Alonso’s side managed to win two spot kicks today and missed them both. The usually reliable Chloe Craig stepped up for the first but her effort to the right hand corner was well saved by City’s Scotland goalkeeper Lee Gibson. Then the ‘goal machine’ Natasha Flint stepped forward for spot kick number two, looking to score to complete her hat-trick. She tried her luck at the left hand side but frustrating Lee Gibson guessed correctly to deny Celtic a second time.

Natasha Ross gave Celtic the lead on 16 minutes after outstanding work from Jacynta before Flint doubled Celtic’s lead on 32 minutes with a clever lob over Gibson. It was no more than Celtic deserved as a determined Celtic side went off at the interval 2-0 to the good.

Priscila Chinchilla, so often a thorn in this Celtic team’s side, was at it again on, being in the right place to tap home and bring the league leaders back into the match with their first piece of good play in the second half. Moments later Chinchilla, who was already on a yellow, tripped Menglu inside the box to concede the first spot kick of the afternoon. The Costa Rican international was given the benefit of the doubt by the referee who really should have looked to his pocket for a second yellow.

Up stepped Chloe Craig but the chance to restore Celtic’s two goal lead was squandered. However the disappointment was short lived as a perfectly flighted former from the classy, hard-working Jacynta found the forehead of Caitlin Hayes two yards from the City goal line and there was only one place the ball was going to end up. That made it 3-1 to Celtic on 55 minutes.

Then on 63 minutes Celtic tried a short corner with Jacynta in the thick of it again, causing panic in the rattled City defence. The ball broke to dash Flint and with quick feet she found just enough space to blast the ball into the roof of the City net giving Gibson no chance. Fran Alonso’s side were in dreamland with a 4-1 lead.

City pulled one back through Lauder on 68 minutes in rather fortuitous circumstances, but they all count. At 4-2 there was always a chance that disaster could strike but in reality a combination of the cover use of the substitutions remaining and the confidence within the players meant that Celtic ran out convincing winners.

New signing Kit Loferski was one of the subs coming on and the American forward has incredible pace, and that’s what won Celtic our second penalty of the match and the third of the day. And just like Kyogo, then Chloe Craig, Tash Flint also failed to find the back of the net but it didn’t really matter.

What a win this is for Celtic, who are now five points behind Glasgow City and two ahead of theRangers, who play City in midweek and – whisper it – we’ll be hoping for a Rangers win! Celtic have a tough match away to Hearts on the same night but wins for Celtic and theRangers will see City pegged back to just two points of Celtic and four ahead of theRangers.

You really must believe us, you really must believe us…

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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