Gallacher’s Magnificent Seven, Celtic Leapfrog Rangers in Title Race

It was a very good weekend for Fran Alonso and his Celtic FC Women side. An 8-0 mauling of bottom side Glasgow Women at New Tinto Park including four goals from new centre-forward Amy Gallacher, that’s seven goals in two games in 2023 for the great grand-daughter of the Celtic legend Patsy Gallacher, delivered the three points so crucial in the three-way battle for the SWPL1 title.

Celtic just have to keep winning and the result was never in any real danger yesterday with the other four goals coming from Natalie Ross, Caitlin Hayes, Jacynta and Maria McAneny.

However it wasn’t the goalscoring exploits at the home of Banbury Football Club that provided the biggest boost of the day for Celtic’s title chances. That happened through in Edinburgh where the current SWPL1 Champions theRangers became the first of the three top sides chasing the title to blink and drop points against the other sides in the league. A goalless draw away to Hearts means that Celtic leapfrog theRangers to move into second place six points behind leaders Glasgow City but with a game in hand.

That game in hand will be played on Wednesday night against Motherwell at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie, (frustratingly clashing with the Celtic v St Mirren match in the Scottish Premiership at Celtic Park).

Fran Alonso will be looking for three points in that game too and as Celtic have played both title rivals away from home we have two home games coming up. City beat Celtic 2-1 with a last minute winner as Celtic were pushing hard in the closing stages to win the match themselves. It was a real sucker punch but the chance for retribution isn’t far away. If Celtic can win these two home matches then Fran Alonso’s side will be in the driving seat in the title race.

Teammates congratulate Caitlin Hayes on her goal

Celtic have never won the SWPL1 title – this is a little closer today and we’re expecting a new striker to be coming in today. She might have a job dislodging Amy Gallacher though after her Magnificent Seven start to 2023!

Glasgow Women 0-8 Celtic FC Women

Celtic : Tajonar, Robertson (Craig 60), Ross (Otto 28), Gallacher (Burchill 60), Jacynta, Shen, Clark, Hayes (O’Riordan 60), Bowie (Fergusson 75), Menglu, McAneny Unused Sub: Halliday

Amy Gallacher on the Match – “I’m delighted to get the four goals today”…

“It was a good performance and lots of chances created. Eight goals and plenty of goal scorers so it was a good performance all-round,” Amy Gallacher told Celtic TV. “The players around me help and create lots of chances. If I’m in the box, I know the cross is going to come in.

“I’m delighted to get the four goals today. I think everyone is enjoying it and improving every game and hopefully this year can be a good year for us. We said before the game it was important not to get frustrated but once the first goal went in, we were good,” Amy said.

With two home games this week, against Motherwell on Wednesday and Partick Thistle on Sunday, it’s vital that Celtic just keep on winning.

“It’s a massive week for us, we need to get nine points out of it,” the Celtic striker said. “There’s going to be rotation in the squad and we’ll use everyone, so we need to keep it up for the rest of the week. It’ll be another tough game on Wednesday but we’re at home under the lights. We love the pitch that we play on and hopefully we can get another three points.”

SWPL1 TABLE

Here’s how the SWPL1 table looks this morning ahead of Celtic FC Women taking on Motherwell in midweek…

Matches this week for Celtic FC Women

Celtic FC Women take on Motherwell on Wednesday (January 18) and Partick Thistle next Sunday (22 January), with both home games being played at the Excelsior Stadium. Those forthcoming home fixtures against our title rivals take place on Sunday 26 February against theRangers (that could change as it’s clashing with the League Cup Final at Hampden) and then we play Glasgow City on Sunday 5 March.