MATCH REPORT: Celtic FC Women 3 Hamilton Accies 0
Celtic returned to the Penny Cars stadium today for their first home SWPL1 encounter since the return from the winter break and found both a stubborn opponent and challenging conditions stood in their way, before exhibiting an impressive level of patience and belief to overcome both and emerge with a well-deserved 3-0 win.
Fran Alonso’s side faced a Hamilton Accies side bottom of the league with a solitary win to their name, alongside 32 goals conceded in thirteen league matches. Celtic on the other hand had been scoring goals for fun with 20 goals in their last three games and were on the back of arguably the best league performance of the season with last weekend’s 7-0 defeat of Partick Thistle.
For Hamilton this was expected to be a daunting task and for Celtic a chance to continue a rich vein of form, and one season ticket holders had the chance to watch via the Pass to Paradise.
Pre-match Celtic were boosted by the return of Chloe Logan in goal and there was also a start for Tegan Bowie at left wing back as Chloe Craig moved back into the back three and Cheyenne Shorts dropped to the bench.
If Hamilton had fears of facing an on-form and free-scoring Celtic team their concerns wouldn’t have been alleviated any by Celtic’s sharp start to the match, as within two minutes a wonderfully lobbed through ball from Jacynta was met by a determined Charlie Wellings run who finished brilliantly across Accies ‘keeper Jeni Currie into the bottom corner.
From there however Celtic flattered to deceive. There were no concerns with possession or indeed patterns of play, however Hamilton sitting deep, mopped up most of what Celtic could offer as an attacking force and early momentum was lost.
Indeed, the only other real clear-cut chance of note came after 13 minutes as Wellings, who had worryingly gone off the pitch for lengthy treatment after appearing to roll her ankle, showed little ill effects initially, despite clearly having the injury strapped up on the sidelines, to break onto a Chloe Craig pass. Wellings then showed an unselfish nature, and the correct decision not to shoot and instead supplied what looked a perfect pass for Jacynta to tap home at the back post. Unfortunately for the Australian, the ball took an awkward bounce en-route and Jacynta blazed the ball over. It looked a bad miss, but in truth there were clear mitigating circumstances and Jacynta and Celtic could count themselves unlucky not to be two ahead.
From there however Celtic looked to struggle to create clear chances but should be commended for sticking to a game plan and exhibiting patience in their play. Hamilton may have been keeping them out by blocking passing lanes and forcing Celtic to recycle possession, but there was clear method to Celtic’s approach and something they had to persevere with.
Celtic did have further chances as Wellings scuffed an effort at goal from a Olafsdottir-Gros cut back and Chloe Craig cracked the cross bar with a 35-yard effort. It was a blossoming combination that would have a late an important impact on the result.
Despite the chances created Celtic went in at half time with a solitary goal to their name, but the knowledge that a slight increase in tempo should result in the goals their dominance in possession deserved.
Celtic however received a blow at half-time as Charlie Wellings’ ankle injury kept her in at the break. Celtic’s 24 goal striker was replaced by Abbie Ferguson who had impressed in a brief cameo against Thistle last week and once again showed some promise this afternoon, whilst Chloe Warrington replaced Tegan Bowie, with Craig moving into the wing back role and Warrington replacing Craig in defence.
And Celtic not only had to battle with the loss of their star striker, by now the elements were also looking problematic, as Storm Corrie hit Airdrie and gale force winds and driving rain became as much an opponent as Hamilton.
Yet Celtic stood firm and remained as patient and stoic as they did in the first half to add two more goals to defeat both Accies and the elements.
Celtic had two early chances after the break, as first Jacynta fed Harkes who in turn found Chloe Craig, and the left sided wing-back delivered the ball from wide, where Harkes from a lay off hit a fine shot that was saved superbly by Currie in the Hamilton goal, and moments later a frustrated Hayes found no options to pass to as she brought the ball out from the back and instead hit an unexpected shot from distance that had Currie beaten bit zipped wide of the post.
Celtic then made three further substitutions as Shorts replaced Hayes, Jacynta made way for Shen and a few moments later Clarissa Larisey came on for Olivia Chance.
The changes added the impetus required as Hamilton now wearying eventually saw heir concentration drop just as much as their stamina wilted.
First up Olafsdottir -Gros, who stood out in the second half, supplied a perfect pass to Chloe Craig who swiped at fresh air rather than the ball and the opportunity was lost. Then again the two linked, as a higher delivery was met by Craig who seemed to meet ball and ‘keeper at the same time and with both landing over the goalline the referee produced the protected species interjection on behalf of Accies ‘keeper Currie and blew for an invisible infringement.
For Craig however it was soon to be third time lucky – or was it?
Celtic did go two goals up as a Tyler Toland set piece delivery was driven goalward by Craig and eventually found the net, however Hamilton’s McAteer looked a little sheepish and Craig’s celebrations somewhat muted, which may indicate an own-goal rather than another Chloe Craig strike. It mattered little however as Celtic’s increasing dominance deserved a goal and few cared who had actually scored it.
And Chloe Craig cared even less moments later as Celtic added a third goal that gave a scoreline more reflective of Celtic’s dominance. Tyler Toland, excellent in the holding midfield role throughout today, fed player of the match Olafsdottir-Gros and this time the wing-back’s cross found Craig with the simplest of tap-ins at the back post to put Celtic 3-0 up.
This was a tougher encounter than Celtic may have predicted, however the 3-0 result was the least the Hoops deserved for their stoicism and resilience throughout.
Accies made little effort to move upfield and instead sat deep trying to limit the Hoops, and anytime they did try and break Celtic were just too strong at the back in any case, and the one-way traffic continued. Instead, Celtic’s greatest challenges were the elements, which they eventually overcame, and the loss of Charlie Wellings.
Abbie Ferguson looked an impressive young player when she came on to replace Celtic’s star striker with tidy touches and impressive link up play, however there was little goal threat exhibited. Thankfully there are plenty goal threats from all positions in this Celtic side, as Chloe Craig showed yet again, and in Olafsdottir-Gros there is also a wing back who is a constant threat with deliveries from wide.
Celtic more than deserved today’s win in tough conditions and up against an opponent interested only in damage limitation.
The only concern from today will be the injury to Charlie Wellings. However, it looked little more than a sprained ankle at worst, and the decision to remove Wellings at half-time rather than persist with playing through the pain barrier will likely have been a wise move from Fran Alonso, who ultimately would have been delighted his side stuck to their game plan and ultimately defeated the elements as much as the parked bus of Hamilton.
Niall J
🎥 Manager @FranAlonsoFA reacts to his team's 3⃣-0⃣ win over Hamilton Accies!#COYGIG 🍀 @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/ATfi8ujwUP
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) January 30, 2022
Presenting in the elements ☔️#SWPL 🍀 @CelticTV https://t.co/41KkJLv5kh
— Louise Gould (@Lou_Gould) January 30, 2022
