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Match Report – Charlie is Hoops Darling on this Beautiful Sunday

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Photo Celtic FC Women

SWPL League Cup Quarter Final – theRangers 0 Celtic 1

Celtic returned to competitive action following the international break with a Glasgow Derby and League Cup Quarter final against theRangers at Murray Park this afternoon. And it was a Halloween shocker for Jenna Fife in theRangers goal and the spectre of Celtic super sub–Tegan Bowie that haunted theRangers, as a Charlie Wellings strike from 25 yards misread terribly by theRangers ‘keeper sent Celtic through to the semi-final, in a game spookily reminiscent of the Green and Whitewash dished out by ‘underdogs’ Celtic last season.

Fran Alonso sent his Celtic team out with Logan in goal, a back three of Shorts, Clark and Hayes, with Bartle picking up a left wing back position and Donaldson on the opposite flank. Meanwhile Chance, Shen and patrolled central midfield and Wellings, Jaycnta and Larisey the forwards tasked with converting any opportunities created.

Photo: Celtic FC Women

Celtic started strongly with Bartle a regular out ball in her unusual starting position and early on Shen linked with Jacynta who saw her strike at Fife in theRangers goal deflect wide. And moments later a perfectly weighted Bartle through ball found Wellings who in turn managed to evade the ‘keeper and shoot for goal only to see theRangers captain Westrup manage to block the striker’s effort at goal.

It was certainly a bright start from the Celts in a ground where Celtic fans were shamefully denied an opportunity to back their side.

In fact, it took 20 minutes before theRangers threatened at all when a McCoy shot, after Hayes gave away cheap possession, saw Chloe Logan gather easily in the Celtic goal. And Logan again held well as a Westrup header from a corner kick caused the Hoops backline some minor positional concern.

There were few clear-cut chances for either side in the opening period, however theRangers did create the most obvious of their own efforts right on half time, as Arnott released Ross, who should have done a lot better following a Donaldson slip in midfield coughed up possession, but once again Logan looked assured in Celtic’s goal and dealt comfortably with what was a tame effort.

If Celtic had started the brighter theRangers probably ended the half in the ascendancy, however with neither side overcommitting it was a cagey opening 45 minutes in a cup-tie with a lot at stake.

Photo Celtic FC Women

Celtic were comfortable enough in midfield and certainly held their own, with Mengyu Shen a stand out in and out of possession, but the second 45 minutes was going to have to see more service created for Wellings who was starting to cut a frustrated figure at the lack of accurate ammunition supplied to her. But that was soon to change.

Celtic certainly started the second period with an increased sense of urgency and created a superb chance as Jacynta broke the lines, fed in the galloping Tegan Bowie, on as a half time sub for Donaldson, on the wing, who in turn delivered a superb cross that was sent agonisingly wide by Larisey. This was a superb start by Celtic to the second 45 and theRangers soon followed suit as Ness created an opportunity that span across the Celtic goal line with thankfully no-one gambling on the opportunity of a tap in.

Photo Celtic FC Women

And Celtic’s early dominance was rewarded after 57 minutes as first Shen, then Chance, broke on the counter before finding the perfectly times run of Wellings who showed exactly what she can do when provided with accurate service as she hit a shot past Fife, who lost the flight of the ball entirely, in theRangers goal from 25 yards to put the Hoops in the driving seat.

It was a wonderfully worked and executed goal and one very much deserved for Celtic’s increased tempo in the second half but it was a Halloween nightmare for Fife in theRangers goal.

Chloe Logan then managed to act as a sweeper keeper and put off theRangers Ross who was distracted by Logan’s attention and sent her lobbed effort wide of the goal.

theRangers were now having to discard the cautious approach and commit themselves to attack, this in turn allowed Celtic to hit on the counter and they Hoops nearly scored again as Wellings flashed the ball across the goal and Larisey was agonisingly short of the touch required to double Celtic’s lead. And Larisey again spurned an opportunity to put Celtic two goals to the good as Chance supplied an opening that really should have been taken first time, but instead Larisey chose to take a touch and set herself and the shot was stifled as the ball got caught under the Celtic forward’s feet.

The worry was such wastefulness would cost the Hoops and Chelsea Cornet, one of a series of reactionary attacking subs made by theRangers boss Malky Thomson, nearly found the net with a shot from distance that Chloe Logan managed to deflect brilliantly onto the bar and protect Celtic’s slender advantage. But in truth Celtic were comfortable soaking up the attacks and hitting on the counter, summed up when Wellings also had a fine chance on the half volley that went over the bar after a cushioned headed lay off from Jodie Bartle, before Chloe Logan again saved well from a McLaughlin shot from distance to protect Celtic’s advantage.

Celtic however absorbed the pressure from theRangers superbly and saw themselves through to the semi-finals with a sturdy defensive performance whilst always looking capable of adding further goals on the counter attack.

This time next week the two teams meet again at the Penny Cars stadium on league duty, but tonight was all about a fine cup win for Celtic, an inspired half-time introduction by Fran Alonso of Tegan Bowie and a Charlie Wellings goal that will haunt theRangers and in particular Jenna Fife in theRangers goal this Halloween evening. Perhaps we can also put to bed this undeserved tag of underdog once and for all. After all, it simply doesn’t fit for a Celtic team so dominant in Glasgow Derbies.

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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