How was that not a red? Up there with the worst refereeing decisions ever seen

Glasgow City 2 Celtic FC Women 0…

Celtic FC Women headed for Petershill Park to face 14-in-a-row league champions Glasgow City tonight with little margin for error in a three-way title race that looked very much like it could be decided on who emerged best in head-to-head encounters.

Unfortunately for Celtic Fran Alonso’s charges came off second best in a game where cheap goals were conceded, clear chances were squandered and a referee’s inexplicable decision not to send off a Glasgow City player for reckless challenge more than played its part in the outcome of the game.

Fran Alonso’s Celtic headed into this game playing catch-up, two points behind second placed City, and with a win could have leapfrogged City in the SWPL1 table. A victory would also have cut the gap on the league leaders to just four points. As such tonight’s loss could be terminal when it comes to Celtic’s title challenge.

The Hoops were given a pre-match boost to their confidence with the news the creative midfielder Olivia Chance and top scorer Charlie Wellings both returned to the starting line-up after missing the weekend win over Spartans through injury, meanwhile the experience of Jodie Bartle was preferred as the unfortunate to miss out Maria Olafsdottir-Gros who dropped to the bench.

Celtic started strongly forcing the issue down City’s left flank through Chloe Craig in particular, and the first chance for the Hoops came after Jacynta fashioned space well, saw the run of Clarissa Larisey, who then delivered the ball across the box, however Wellings couldn’t force the ball over the line as City limbs blocked the way.

It was a sign of intent as Jacynta attacking the opposite flank found an angle running at goal on the corner of the area and took aim only to see her shot drift wide of the post. Yet despite the tidy start from Celtic the Hoops found themselves a goal behind after 12 minutes and it is one Catlin Hayes would rather forget.

City’s Chinchilla drove with the ball to the corner of the box and seemed to be tackled comfortably by Hayes, only for the Celtic defender to weakly lose out to the determination of City’s wide attacker, who in turn found City forward Fulutudilu pitifully unmarked, and the striker’s guided effort evaded the dive of Chloe Logan to sneak into the bottom corner and put City a goal to the good. Fulutudilu then almost grabbed her second but her shot from an acute angle went into the side netting with Kelly Clark the defender looking lost on this occasion.

If Celtic were rocked it didn’t show, as within a minute the Hoops broke through Wellings who found Jacynta however her goal bound shot was blocked. This was a good reaction from Celtic, and again Jacynta was the creator moments later with a threaded ball to Clarissa Larisey who was legally nudged when in the act of shooting and the off-balance drive flew over the angle of post and crossbar.

Then after 35 minutes an intricate move inside the box involving Jacynta, Wellings and Larisey once again saw a clear chance created for the Hoops only for Larisey’s effort to clear the crossbar, however the understanding of all three to link up in the tight confines of the City penalty area was an encouraging sight, as Celtic tried to find an equalising goal.

City could soon count themselves lucky to have eleven players on the park, after a ridiculously high tackle from Niamh Farrelly on Chloe Craig saw both players receive lengthy treatment, however Craig clearly was the victim of a reckless straight legged challenge to her thigh and midriff.

In the end Craig was able to continue whilst Farrelly left the field, clearly tactically substituted to avoid the red card she should have received, as the referee bottled his decision and allowed City to continue with eleven players when they should have been down a player.

Celtic then went in at the break a goal behind, and although creating opportunities, with both Jacynta and Larisey lively, there was a lack of fluency to the Celts midfield play. Passes lacked accuracy and the space afforded to the wing backs wasn’t being utilised enough. Chloe Craig was finding room but the final ball was missing. Whereby on the opposite flank Jodie Bartle wasn’t lacking for effort but appeared to struggle impose herself when in the final third and lacked accuracy in her deliveries from wide. Meanwhile Charlie Wellings was making herself available although seemed caught in two minds whether to come short or run beyond, and as a result was caught between two stools and a confusing target for Celtic’s midfield. And even when Celtic’s top scorer did get the ball, support was slow to react and offer themselves for the striker to play off.

Celtic started the second half with far better use of the ball and better support for each other, and Wellings had clearly decided to go in behind rather than come short and Celtic now seemed comfortable trying to pick out the strikers runs.

Celtic should have been level five minutes into the second half, as Chloe Craig was well supported by Jacynta down Celtic’s right flank and Hoops attacker delivered a superb cross into the area where City’s Jenna Clark could only head to the edge of the box with Charlie Wellings loitering in acres of space. It looked a certain goalscoring opportunity, however Wellings shot lacked conviction and an excellent chance to equalise was frustratingly lost.

City then almost made it two as Hayley Lauder’s shot was deflected onto the post with Logan beaten and Celtic breathed a sigh of relief, before a fine run and shot from Jacynta saw Lee Alexander gather easily.

In 57 minutes however it was a disaster for Celtic as City scored against the run of play, as a Dodds shot from inside the area trundled goalward and looked without danger, however Chloe logan fumbled the effort and the ball dribbled over the goal line for Celtic’s second entirely avoidable concession of the evening – and it could have been three as a dipping Clare Shine effort left Logan beaten, however the ball came down off the bar and then the goalline and thankfully bounced clear, before Hayley Lauder forced a superb save from Chloe Logan to stop the Hoops dropping further behind.

Fran Alonso soon decided action was to be taken with a series of substitutions made, as firstly Bartle and Clark were replaced by Maria Olafsdottir Gros and Tegan Bowie, with Harkes, Wellings and Jacynta then making way for Tyler Toland, Shen Mengyu and Izzy Atkinson moments later.

Tegan Bowie almost made an immediate impact as her direct run and shot was driven off target but other than that the changes made little impact.

Chloe Logan then had to go off with what looked a horrible landing when leaving her area to clear Celtic’s defensive lines, and ironically Celtic ended the game with ten players as Caitlin Hayes took over in goal, replacing a clearly distressed Logan, with Celtic having used all their subs chasing the game.

Celtic couldn’t be faulted for effort this evening but it was a disappointing performance, that although punctuated by moments of skill and opportunity, lacked any real fluency, direction or conviction.

It will now be a tough task to mount a title challenge and instead focus will likely need to move to mounting a challenge for the second Champions League qualifying place and a Scottish Cup to add to the League Cup trophy won in December.

Meanwhile Fran Alonso may need to consider an alternative gameplan for when the opposition nullify Celtic’s tactical plan. However, the Head Coach can, and should, point to the outrageous decision from the referee not to send off City’s Niamh Farrelly that should have left Celtic playing against ten for the second 45 minutes.

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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