Hearts 0 Celtic 10 (Ten) – THE result of the weekend, well done Ghirls

It would be fair to say Celtic’s head coach Fran Alonso sounded confident in the build-up to Celtic’s SWPL meeting with Hearts at Orian in Edinburgh this morning, but there remained a concern as to any complacency setting in.

As it turned out there was no complacent attitude and the underlying confidence certainly wasn’t misplaced as his Celtic side went all Beautiful South with a perfect ten bursting out at the seams today.

Alonso had been concerned that the opening day defeat to Glasgow City, after a long Covid-19 impacted lay off, would perhaps have an adverse reaction on his squad, especially so given the defeat was followed by a far from perfect fortnight break for international fixtures.

Alonso had seen signs of a lack of fitness in the closing stages at Broadwood two weeks ago and had tweaked the training regime to counter those worries. A 10-0 win over Hearts today was vindication for the change of tact on the training field then and evidence that Celtic as a full-time professional outfit have a coach with his eyes on the prize. The league title will be the main concern but with an extra Champions League place available to Scottish teams this season there is a much-coveted prize even if the Celts can’t quite top the tree this season.

Celtic were impressive in possession against Glasgow City last week, but lacked the finishing touch. Whilst an amateur like myself would have put that down to profligacy in front of goal and the need for shooting drills aplenty, Alonso saw match fitness as the issue and clearly remedied that over the last two weeks. Today that foresight paid dividends.

Summer Green opened Celtic’s account today with a free kick past Hamilton in the Hearts goal having herself been fouled in the build-up, before Natalie Ross headed home a second two minutes later from a Tegan Bowie delivery.

Celtic then had a 25-yard Rachel Donaldson effort to thank for putting the Hoops three goals to the good following a poor clearance from Hamilton. Tegan Bowie then turned goalscorer from provider as Summer Green supplied Bowie who finished into the top corner to finish the game as a contest and give the Celts a 4-0 half time lead.

Some teams may take the foot off the gas at that point but Celtic picked up where they left off in the second half. Choe Craig stuck away a spot kick after substitute Sarah Ewens, on for Tegan Bowie, was upended in the area. 5-0 Celtic.

On loan Atletico Madrid forward Anita Marcos then added a sixth goal with a left foot half volley past Hamilton and then eight minutes later Sarah Ewens grabbed her half century of goals in a Celtic shirt when the winger bent a right footed shot into the top corner. Keeping up? That was the seventh of the afternoon without reply for the Celts.

Kathleen McGovern then had a tap in after a mix up in the Hearts defence to make it eight and it was McGovern who also made it nine for Celtic after Natalie Ross supplied the ammunition for McGovern to slide the finish past Hamilton in the Hearts goal.

And a torrid start to Sunday for the Hearts defence was completed when Natalie Ross grabbed the Perfect 10 with a strike off the underside of the bar.

Fran Alonso may have been confident if not a little guarded prior to today’s game but it’s clear the two-week shutdown after the opening day defeat to Glasgow city reaped rewards, as the time available to the coach and players on the training field was put to good use.

Celtic have sent out a message to the SWPL today. This team is aiming high and they’ll be ruthless in their pursuit of a top two finish, as Hearts found out today, ten times in total. Watch all TEN goals below.

Niall J

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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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