CELTIC FC WOMEN ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!
A Caitlin Hayes header midway through the first half was enough to secure the three points this evening for Elena Sadiku’s exciting Celtic FC Women side. The Ghirls have now won all four of their post-split fixtures and reach the half-way stage on Sunday afternoon at Celtic Park against Hearts, with a big a crowd expected.
Sadiku’s side went into the split trailing theRangers, who had not lost a match, by four points and the Celtic boss knew she’s probably need to win all ten games if she was going to deliver a first ever title for Celtic FC Women this season.
After wins against, theRangers, Glasgow City, Partick Thistle and now Hibs, Sadiku went into tonight’s game just one point behind theRangers, who were playing Hearts this evening,…and lost 1-0!
❤️ A moment in the history of Hearts Women.
The journey continues. pic.twitter.com/06tuFSHZSe
— Hearts Women (@heartswomenfc) April 17, 2024
So Celtic FC Women had to Paradise on Sunday afternoon to play Hearts and the Ghirls are two points clear at the top of the league, looking down on theRangers!
🗣️ “When you are competing at the top of the league, you’ve got to win when you aren’t at your best. We did that tonight.”
🎥 Kelly Clark spoke to @CelticTV following this evening’s win against Hibs ⤵#CELHIB | #SWPL | #COYGIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/UQkMH38ZGs
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) April 17, 2024
After tonight’s victory over Hibs and Hearts doing us a favour in the capital, we have now moved into first place, meaning Celtic FC Women are now in the title driving seat.
Tonight’s game got underway, and the Celts were seeing plenty of the ball, getting in good areas and looking promising. Thus, it was no surprise that we would soon find the opener when, with 21 minutes on the clock, with Caitlin Hayes heading home from a corner. We almost grabbed a second right away when Kit Loferski and Tash Flint linked up well together, but Flint’s shot was well saved.
The visitors started to make their presence felt as they moved up into our area, but their first shot of the game was knocked away by Kelsey Daugherty. And up the other end, we came close again as Colette Cavanagh worked hard to find space and let off a shot, but her effort only went as far as the crossbar.
With the first half wrapped up, it was bad news for the Celts as Amy Gallacher was forced off at half-time through injury and will now be a doubt for Sunday’s match at Celtic Park.
Daugherty who was forced into making a couple of saves early in the second half as Hibs pressed for an equaliser. Just past the hour mark, Loferski was almost on the end of a great delivery into the box, but the Hibs keeper managed to punch it away to deny the American.
🗣️ “We kept fighting to secure all three points, and to see that was great.”
🎥 Elena Sadiku reflects on her side’s performances after their victory this evening ⤵#CELHIB | #SWPL | #COYGIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/SK9Pf48eN4
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) April 17, 2024
The Hoops started to pile on the pressure as time was ticking on, with Cavanagh moving further up the pitch to assist the attack. As we continued to attack, Flint came close to doubling our advantage but her shot struck the post. The Liverpool loanee was the centre of attack again as we entered the final stages of the match, but she couldn’t hit the target as the referee blew for full-time.
But everyone will have been buzzing with the 1-0 victory as the three points were all that mattered, moving Celtic top of the league, with Hearts inflicting a second SWPL defeat of the season on theRangers Women.
Tadhal do Hearts. Katie Lockwood!⚽
Katie Lockwood gives Hearts the lead!⚽ pic.twitter.com/nYk2EDBlrI
— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) April 17, 2024
With the result in the capital, the Celtic title charge is well and truly on. I have every faith in the Ghirls and Elena to lead Celtic to an historic title win victory and seeing them lift the club’s first ever SWPL title at Celtic Park would be a sight to behold at the end of the season.
Now, don’t forget, we take on Hearts this Sunday at Paradise and with them coming off the back of a victory against our title rivals, they will be looking to beat Celtic too. We need to make sure we keep the three points so make sure to get behind the Ghirls this weekend. Tickets are still available, click on image below.
What night it has been with the two results going our way in the SWPL and theRangers dropping points at Dundee. Two league titles for Celtic looks well and truly on.
Thank you for your support tonight Celts, we need it again this Sunday at Celtic Park! 💚🏟️
🔗 Buy tickets online now ➡️ https://t.co/jiyfxIB0e7 #CelticFC 🍀 #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/40PA48aWPy
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) April 17, 2024
Excellent! See you on Sunday.COYGIG.
A wee word of praise for uber Celt Rachael Johnstone the Hearts goalie , seems she had a great game denying the Huns on several occasions , on to Sunday now and any win will do , COYGIG
She had an incredible game! An absolute unit in net, hope she goes far.
After the pathetic conclusion to last season, when knowing that they couldnt win the league themselves theRangers threw the final match against Glasgow City just to stop us from lifting our first title Ill be happy if now that the ghirls are top they stay there and stay in control of their own destiny. What occurred last season should never be allowed to happen again
Totally agree, the cry was no defenders!!! The season before that they didn’t lose a single game in the league. Their previous defeat was the last game of the previous season where they lost to Glasgow City and in doing so made sure that Celtic (who beat Motherwell 7-1) didn’t win the league.
In our own hands this time though, as you say.