After the excitement of a Glasgow Derby Cup win on Sunday Celtic returned to SWPL1 league action this evening at the Oriam Performance Centre, and a midweek meeting under the lights with Hearts. Fran Alonso in the pre-match build up had lauded the defensive record of the hosts yet it didn’t take long for his heavily rotated team to dispel his concerns with a blistering first half display.
Fran Alonso plumped for a youthful injection energy and pace following a tiring encounter in the Derby victory. In came Tyler Toland, Chloe Warrington, Olafsdottir Gros and Tegan Bowie, impressive as a game changing second half substitute against theRangers. Room was also made for more seasoned additions, as Kathleen McGovern and Chloe Craig also came into a team numbering six changes from the weekend, with Bartle, Shorts, Shen, Larisey, Clark and Donaldson dropping to the bench alongside the welcome sight of Izzy Atkinson joining the subs and fit enough at least to be back in contention soon for a place in the team.
Celtic started strongly picking up from where they left off from the weekend, and almost took the lead as early as the third minute with -who else? Charlie Wellings striking a low drive that came back off the post but sadly no-one was quite sharp enough to pick up the scraps from the rebound and the chance went abegging. Not that it was to matter.
That early opportunity was soon followed by the first goal of the game as Celtic took a seventh minute lead to settle nerves, as Charlie Wellings showed her missed opportunity was simply a case of getting her eye in. Olivia Chance and Jacynta fashioned the opportunity with incisive play at the edge of the box and Wellings was on hand to finish the move with a tap in to put the Hoops a goal to the good.
And Celtic weren’t for letting up on their relentless start and Kathleen McGovern grabbed a second goal for the Celts only four minutes later, as a trademark Bowie back-post-delivery was met on the volley with Hearts ‘keeper Parker-Smith unable to keep it out.
And the chances kept coming for Celtic with the only surprise being it took until the 28th minute before Celtic went three goals up and put the game to bed.
Prior to Jacynya making it 3-0, as Celtic’s energetic press led to Olafsdottir Gros finding Jacynta in the area, who in turn guided the ball past Parker-Smith, Toland had an opportunity deflected into the ‘keepers arms, Charlie Wellings nearly grabbed her second of the night with a spin and shot from the edge of the area that went wide of the post and Hayes had a headed opportunity from an Olivia Chance corner kick that also went close.
Celtic had completed a Riccarton Three – one for any Jambos of a certain age lurking – with less than half an hour played. Sensational stuff from Fran Alonso’s much rotated team.
That impressive first half showing was enough to allow Fran Alonso to take off both Charlie Wellings and Olivia Chance at half-time but the strength in depth was evident as Mengyu Shen and Clarissa Larisey stepped off the bench as able replacements.
And Larisey was involved within three minutes as she won the ball and drove upfield, laying off for Tegan Bowie who fed Jacynta but her finish was too straight to threaten Parker-Smith.
The hour mark saw three further changes made by Fran Alonso as Hayes, Jacynta and Bowie all stood down and Kelly Clark, Jodie Bartle and Rachel Donaldson stepped up for the final third of the game. Only three minutes later Shen set up a fine chance for McGovern with a finely delivered free kick to the back post that couldn’t quite be directed on goal.
From there on in, whether it was due to the number of changes, a decision to conserve energy or resolute defending from the hosts Celtic created little of note in the final moments. Not that they had too.
Tonight, was all about getting the three points, resting players and rotating the squad in a punishing period of three huge games in only seven days for the Hoops. After tonight it’s case of two down and one to go as Celtic look to a home Glasgow Derby SWPL1 encounter with theRangers.
This encounter was three and easy for Celtic. A perfectly professional first half allowed the time to take the foot off the pedal in the second half, ensuring Celtic should be fit and ready for the final part of the trilogy come Sunday afternoon. If we beat theRangers again, do we get to keep them?
Niall J
Well done ghirls.