Match Report: Spartans 0 Celtic FC Women 2…
Celtic FC Women returned to SWPL1 action today with a tough away encounter against Spartans at Ainslie Park and emerged with a 2-0 win in blustery conditions and up against a stuffy opponent.
It was a game where nothing less than three points would do, with the Celts five points off the top chasing league leaders Glasgow City and second placed theRangers, ahead of those two sides due to meeting later in the day (theRangers won 3-1). Indeed, was a similar story back in October as Celtic looked to top the league prior to the two other Glasgow sides meeting later that day also, however Celtic had to rely on a late Charlie Wellings goal to gain a share of the spoils on that occasion and had been playing catch up in the league title race ever since.
This time around Celtic went into today’s game with 23 goals scored in just four domestic games since returning from the winter break and with a solitary goal conceded, and although the goals didn’t flow quite as freely as recent matched Celtic were ultimately too good for a defensively organised Spartans side but one who offered little in attack.
Three points wrapped up in Edinburgh ☄️
⚪️0-2🍀#ParksSWPL1 | #SPACEL | #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/SLI21NCadY
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) February 6, 2022
There were pre-match injury concerns surrounding the availability of both top scorer Charlie Wellings and the creative influence of Olivia Chance and neither player made the team when it was announced with Mengyu Shen and Clarissa Larisey coming in to replace them.
And it was both replacements who combined to give Celtic a brilliant opportunity to open the scoring in seven minutes, as Shen crossed superbly for Larisey in acres of space however the first-time headed effort lacked purchase and the chance was easily saved.
It was the only clear-cut opportunity in an opening 25 minutes where Celtic struggled to get into their regular passing rhythm in blustery conditions and take advantage of the wide expanse of Ainslie Park, hindered in no small part by regular stoppages in play due to apparent injuries to Spartans players, as well as a series of heavy touches from players normally far more assured in possession.
Spartans meanwhile looked limited even on the counter attack and needed Celtic assistance when Chloe Logan saved bravely at feet from Rebecca Galbraith following a desperately short pass back from Caitlin Hayes. Logan needed treatment but recovered well from what was a strong challenge to say the least.
Moments later however Celtic were in front as Jacynta drove at the Spartans defence, dragged three players with her before cutting the ball across the goal line where the chance momentarily looked lost as Larisey failed to reach the delivery before Maria Olafsdottir-Gros reached it at the back post to finish superbly from a tight angle.
Four minutes before the break and Celtic could have been two up as Tyler Toland threaded a wonderful ball through for Choe Craig whose effort was blocked by Spartans Rachel Harrison, but Jacynta’s follow up ended up clearing the crossbar and with that missed chance Celtic went in a goal to the good after a stop-start opening 45 minutes.
Celtic started the second half strongly and could have grabbed the second goal just five minutes after the restart as Olafsdottir Gros pressed superbly and Chloe Craig was unlucky to see her shot drift inches past the post.
However, ten minutes later and goalscorer Olafsdottr-Gros turned provider with an improvised pass, by way of her knee, lofted over the Spartans defence and Clarissa Larisey was onto the ball in a flash guiding a left footed finish into the bottom corner to put Celtic 2-0 up.
That goal allowed Fran Alonso the security to ring the changes ahead of a Thursday night clash with Glasgow City, as first Tegan Bowie and Abbie Ferguson replaced Sarah Harkes and Maria Olafsdottir-Gros, before Jodie Bartle and Izzy Atkinson swapped places with Chloe Craig and Jacynta. And in between the two sets of substitutions Spartans almost grabbed a goal as Celtic, loose in possession, allowed Spartans to strike from distance, however Chloe Logan dived well to save.
Substitute Abbie Ferguson had a chance with ten minutes to go as the young striker tested Rachel Harrison from a Bartle delivery but was unable to convert, and Izzy Atkinson was also off target in the closing stages, but in the end a goal in each half was enough for Celtic to wrap up a vital three points with a perfunctory performance against a resolute opponent determined to defend rather than entertain.
Celtic will now look to the outcome of the meeting between the SWPL1’s top two sides this afternoon, before going head-to-head with Glasgow City on Thursday evening in a game that could have a huge bearing on Celtic’s title challenge.
Niall J
