Scottish Women’s Premier League

Sunday, October 20, 2019

K-Park Academy, East Kilbride

Celtic 5

(Donaldson 25, Giard 42, Keenan 74, Ewens 77 & 82)

Motherwell 0

A GOAL-HUNGRY Celtic returned to action firing on all cylinders, as they recorded a deserved 5-0 victory over Motherwell at K-Park, in their penultimate home game of the season.

The Hoops bounced back from a disappointing few weeks as goals from Rachel Donaldson, Josephine Giard, Keeva Keenan and Sarah Ewens' double sets them up nicely heading into next weekend's Glasgow derby.

The match also presented the manager with the opportunity to introduce another two Academy players into the mix, as Cara Henderson was called up for the first time this season, while Lauryn Reside made her first-team debut for the club.

The Celts started well, moving the ball about and working Anna Vincenti in the Motherwell goal. Despite their early pressure, the opener didn’t come until the 25th minute, when Giard delivered into the busy box to see Donaldson stand strong to stab home through the packed box.

Then, in the 42nd minute, Giard got on the scoresheet herself. After picking up a pass from Natalie Ross out wide, she sprinted towards the box from 30 yards out to cut it past the keeper from an acute angle for Celtic’s second.

Eddie Wolceki Black’s side continued to press, but the third goal didn’t arrive until the 74th minute with a sublime solo effort from Keenan. Drifting in, the full-back sent her strike across goal and high into the side netting.

Ewens was next to get in on the action as she blasted high to see her strike go in after an unfortunate fumble for the Motherwell keeper. Then Keenan turned provider just eight minutes from time, as she fired down the right to square it for Ewens, who made no mistake as she sent a low drive home from point blank range for her second and Celtic’s fifth.

Motherwell almost had a consolation in the dying minutes as Katie Rice sent in a free-kick from outside the box, but Chloe Logan held to ensure the Celts’ clean sheet was intact.

With a confidence-boosting win, the Celts now face a trip to the Hummell Training Centre for the final Glasgow derby of the season on Sunday.

Celtic: Logan, Black (McBrearty), C Craig, Clark, Keenan, Smart, Ross (Henderson), Giard (E Craig), Hay (Reside), Donaldson (McGovern), Ewens

Subs: Cunningham, O'Neill

Well-earned victory for Five-star Celts over Fir Park outfit