League Cup and Scottish Cup Champions – That’s Who We Are

Celtic FC Women are Double Cup winners. Now that has a nice ring to it. Yet winning the cup doesn’t tell half the story. This was a game where Celtic’s character was tested to the limit and Fran Alonso’s side met every challenge head on to eventually lift the cup after extra time.

Celtic took the lead in this one and were immediately pegged back, they drove forward again and from the penalty spot again went in front, only for City themselves to equalise five minutes before half time, as Celtic not only conceded the penalty but were also reduced to ten, as a controversial penalty was compounded by the inexplicable decision to also send off Jodie Bartle.

Yet in that second half and for extra time also Celtic soaked up the pressure, broke on the counter-attack on several occasions only to be denied by some inspired goalkeeping and bad luck, and they looked as if they were the team who had the numerical advantage.

Tactically Fran Alonso adjusted several times in this game as Glasgow City tried to take advantage of their extra personnel, even going to two up front – surely not something in the managerial handbook for when faced with a numerical disadvantage. But the message seemed clear, the Celtic boss wanted this one won without penalty kicks.

Izzy Atkinson eventually rewarded the manager for his tactical bravery and her teammates for their herculean efforts on the day, when from a sublime Sarah Harkes through ball, Atkinsons first touch was measured to perfection and the second touch was a low left footed finish that went through the legs of Celtic’ goalkeeping nemesis of the second half, Lee alexander in the City goal, and Celtic FC Women had won their first Scottish Cup and with it completed an incredible cup double having won the League Cup against the same team back in December.

Post-match Izzy Atkinson admitted the team had practiced in the build-up to this one playing when down to ten players, and even when down to nine.

Such meticulous planning won’t have come as a surprise to anyone who saw this game unfold, because the Celtic players were never put off their stride by losing a player to a sending off, and Atkinson even admitted when she came on as a second half substitute, she’d forgotten the team were playing with ten players – perhaps Fran Alonso included some hypnosis in his half-time team talk!

Fran Alonso’s parents share in the Celtic triumph

READ THIS…Oh When The Celts Went Up To Lift The Scottish Cup

Celtic wrote a new chapter in the history of a club with an incredible back-story already, but they also took part in a classic cup final, one you simply couldn’t take your eyes off for 120 minutes of incredible drama. In the end they were falling to cramp after playing an astonishing 80 minutes of this encounter with a numerical disadvantage but still found the energy and belief to emerge victorious.

For Glasgow City this was the first time since 2003 they had finished a season without a trophy and that shows the significance of this Celtic win. These players and this manager outthought and outfought a habitual winner yesterday, and as Celtic celebrate in the coming days thoughts will soon return to plans for next season.

The Celtic board were at Tynecastle yesterday, and now they must see the upward trajectory this team is on, the tactical nous they have in their manager, and the talent they have in their ranks – but it needs supplementing.

READ THIS…Reflections on Celtic’s first ever Women’s Scottish Cup Triumph at Tynecastle

Celtic’s journey as a professional football club is only two years old and already, they have lifted a cup double, yet a disappointing league position showed this squad needs depth added to it.

If they get it a league challenge – and the associated Champions league qualification that comes with it – is entirely possible. That will bring exposure, attract top players, bring in funds and attract sponsors.

Both the manager and the players showed there is a togetherness in this squad an no little talent, all they perhaps lack is the numbers to sustain a challenge over the course of the season and some financial backing from those holding the purse strings at Celtic has now been fully earned. It’s now their duty to ensure Fran Alonso can have the tools at his disposal to realise his own ambitions and yesterday he more than earned that backing in the summer.

Niall J

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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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