Last week Fran Alonso was quietly confident and Celtic emerged with a 10-0 win against Hearts. This week the Celtic head coach and midfielder Lisa Robertson were keen to impress upon us all that Spartans would be a far tougher nut to crack, and once again the pre-match assessments were quite correct.
Celtic were by far the better team at K-Park today but the stuffy defensive and disrupting game hinted at pre-match turned out to be prophetic. It may have been hard to break down, it may indeed have been anti-football Celtic were up against, but the Hoops were patient in possession, didn’t lose control, stuck to a game plan and fully deserved their 1-0 win this afternoon. It was disciplined throughout under niggly defensive pressure but the Celts got their just desserts today.
🎙️Fran Alonso gave his post-match thoughts following the win today against @spartansfcwomen #CELSPA pic.twitter.com/P9V8xiknyT
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) November 8, 2020
Summer Green indicated intent within the first minute, with a low strike at goal that Spartans keeper Harrison had no trouble with. But it was a beginning to a game that showed Celtic intended to force the issue. Throughout they were the only team who did.
Two minutes later Tegan Bowie sent the ball across the face of goal but both Ewens and Donaldson couldn’t find a suitable connection.
After 17 minutes Green was fouled 40 yards from goal. Lisa Robertson sent in the free kick but Hayes headed over. And still Celtic pushed while Spartans defended so deep, they could have been sitting in the car park. Eight minutes later Bowie again went close but her shot couldn’t quite trouble Harrison but the patient play Celtic employ was impressive.
By now Celtic were upping the tempo and with 10 minutes before the break Craig played a lovely ball into Summer Green who delivered a wonderful cross. Had Harrison not got her fingertips to the delivery Donaldson was charging in to score.
There were two further chances before the break as Sarah Ewens from a Bowie pass saw Harrison save, then right-on half-time Craig headed over from a Roberston corner.
As much as it was one-way traffic, Spartans seemed comfortable to surrender possession and wait for opportunities on the break. You knew how these kinds of games pan out, Celtic were going to have to take even half a chance otherwise Spartans tactics could well work.
Two minutes into the second half Celtic got the goal their patience deserved. Classic it was not but it was fully merited. Sarah Ewens deserved a goal for her application throughout but she knew little about it as a defensive clearance struck Ewens and went past the keeper.
Celtic would add no further goals today. McGovern had a chance forcing Harrison into a good save and Hayes sent a header past the post from a Lisa Robertson corner, but that was pretty much the extent of the second half chances. However, the three points meant the Celts have taken six points from an available nine ahead of next weekend’s first Glasgow Derby and considering the defensive nature of the opponents game plan it was a well-earned victory.
Fran Alonso was certainly pleased post-match speaking post-match:
“Today was all about getting the three points. It was a tough game, we expected that. The question was, were we able to break them down, we finally did that. I am delighted to get all three points. The girls deserve it.”
“We were frustrated on the bench, we worked hard on rotation this week, so we were getting into positions but the last ball was under-hit or over-hit.”
“But at half-time, I told the girls we needed to believe because the girls were sticking to the plan and it was working. The goal comes from us pressing high so it was good to see us being aggressive. We are happy.”
🎙️Goal scorer @sarahewens19 gave her thoughts after the game in which she secured all three points for the Hoops#CELSPA pic.twitter.com/AMka1YFJvj
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) November 8, 2020
Match winner Sarah Ewens meanwhile recognised the fortitude in the goal scored, but also pointed to how the game plan to ensure the pressure was maintained on the opposition paid off.
“It was a hard game today against Spartans, it’s came down to one goal and I am glad to have helped the team, although it wasn’t my finest goal but I’ll take it! It has got us the three points.”
“If you put them under pressure, it can always lead to a mistake. I’ve just went for it, luckily, she’s made a mistake and I’ve intercepted it and it’s gone into the back of the net. Happy with it, I’ll take it happy to take any goal.”
This was a game we were all warned could have been a frustrating afternoon, and so it proved, yet Fran Alonso and the players should be commended for not only having the correct game plan but not getting so frustrated as to deviate from it.
Now Celtic go into next week’s Glasgow Derby brimming with confidence. Something tells me Fran Alonso will leave no stone unturned next weekend if today’s tactics are anything to go by. It took patience and a wee bit of luck but justice was served as Celtic defeated Spartans 1-0 today and got their season into Sarah Ewens inspired groove.
Niall J
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