Dare to Dream, Ghirls, as Cesar said “There’s a fairytale about this club”

Fran Alonso will of course be keen to keep his high-flying Celtic team focussed on simply winning three points as the Hoops face up to Forfar Farmington at K-Park this afternoon, for the supporters however it will be impossible to be quite so blinkered.

A win of course is all that matters with a Champions League spot assured if Celtic simply emerge victorious in their final two games, however there isn’t a supporter following this team who don’t think the league title isn’t a possibility. With a nine-goal disadvantage over Glasgow City, and the small matter of a favour being required from elsewhere for City’s three-point advantage to be overcome, points may well be the primary focus but goals galore is something not far from anyone’s thoughts today. Indeed, mobile phones could see as much need for their calculators as an internet connection as we look to crunching numbers just as much as to how our nearest challengers get on in the SWPPL1’s penultimate weekend.

With Celtic having seen off tough challenges of late in both the Green and Whitewash derby win at theRangers and a tough encounter and a hard-fought win on a dire surface against Hibs, it is fair to say the hardest of Celtic’s opponents this season have now been seen off.

As such there are goals to be had against Forfar and Motherwell next week, in a league where double figure scorelines are far from uncommon a nine-goal turnaround with Glasgow City is far from impossible, even over the space of only two games. This is particularly key when league leaders and 13-time winners City have a final day showdown with theRangers, a team who have already taken five goals off City in their only defeat of the season.

For Celtic there are goal threats throughout the team and with Fran Alonso admitting he intends to rotate a squad he advised were feeling both the physical and mental impact of a condensed league season, the goal threats will come from both the starting line-up and the supporting cast from the bench.

It is also worth remembering that goals have not been exclusive to Celtic’s attacking options of late with both Caitlin Hayes and Kelly Clark showing Celtic have defensive threats who can hit the back of the net, particularly from Fran Alonso’s well practiced set pieces, and Chloe Craig with 65 goals in 200 appearances won’t be shy in looking to add to those impressive figures.

However, in attack Celtic are lethal in front of goal. Mariah Lee, Jacynta and Anna Filbey are all as capable of hitting the net as they are at fashioning chances for teammates whilst Rachel Donaldson and the goal a game – or so it appears – Sarah Ewens will be the players the Celtic support will be hanging their hats on when it comes to eating into Glasgow City’s goal advantage over the next two games.

A special mention also to new signing London Pollard who faces her old side this afternoon. Despite being used predominately as an impact sub in recent games Pollard has looked a very capable player already with ability that belies her young years, I’ve a feeling facing up to her old teammates this afternoon may well see London Pollard bring some goals to the Celtic party today.

K-Park is where the action is this afternoon and The Celtic Star will be in attendance, and you can watch the game live as Celtic’s home game with Forfar Farmington will be streamed on the BBC Sport Scotland website from 1.55pm for a 2pm Kick off. That will be followed by leaders and holders Glasgow City’s trip to face Spartans on BBC Alba from 4pm with a 4.10pm KO. As ever the highlights from all four games will be on BBC Scotland at 20:15.

It’s a big weekend for the SWPL1 as it reaches its penultimate weekend. And for Celtic, as that famous Billy McNeill quote said “There’s a fairytale about this club”. As such three points and nine goals may seem a big ask to turnaround, yet when it is Celtic and a league title on the line fairytales do happen. A win over Forfar Farmington and a few goals to boot could well see us all having use for those calculators next weekend too. Best of luck to Fran Alonso and his Celtic team this afternoon. COYGIG!

Niall J

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.

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