SSE Scottish Women’s Cup
Last 16 Round
Sunday, August 25, 2019
K-Park, East Kilbride

CELTIC… 2
(Craig 61 & 83)

ST JOHNSTONE… 0

A CHLOE Craig double gave Celtic a 2-0 victory over St Johnstone and a place in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup. The defender proved to be Celtic’s super sub as she came off the bench to make a decisive contribution to a tie that the Hoops had dominated without getting their reward in terms of goals.

From the first whistle, Celtic were on the front foot, with Sarah Ewens and Josephine Giard both creating chances from the wide areas and testing the St Johnstone goalkeeper. Giard in particular was proving a handful for the Saints defence, but the Hoops were unable to get on the end of any balls into the area.

Rachael O’Neill came close with a shot that was deflected out for a corner, while Ewens’ clever low free-kick under the St Johnstone wall went narrowly wide.

The breakthrough came just after the hour mark when Kathleen McGovern was brought down inside the area, and Chloe Craig stepped up to convert the spot-kick, having only been on the park for six minutes as a replacement for O’Neill.

And on 83 minutes, she scored her and Celtic’s second goal of the game. Emma Black floated a free-kick into the area, and Craig rose highest to head the ball into the net. It gave the Hoops a 2-0 win and, most importantly, a place in the last eight of the competition.

Celtic are in action at K-Park, East Kilbride this Sunday, September 1, when they take on Stilring University in the SWPL1. Kick-off is 2pm (Adults £5, Concessions £5, Under-16s free)

CELTIC: Logan, McBrearty (Keenan), McCulloch (Hodges), O’Neill (C. Craig), Black, Clark, Ross, Smart (Donaldson), Giard (E. Craig), Ewens, McGovern
Subs: Hay, Cunningham

Craig at the double as Hoops sink Saints in Scottish Cup