Scottish Women’s Premier League

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir

STIRLING UNIVERSITY…2

(Lyons 60, Jobanek 93)

CELTIC…3

(Ewens 21, 53, McGovern 55)

CELTIC ended the 2019 campaign with a fifth consecutive win, with a 3-2 victory over Stirling University enough to see the Celts finish level on points with second-placed Hibs after an incredible season.

A brace from Sarah Ewens and Kathleen McGovern’s strike put the Hoops three goals to the good before the hosts pulled two back, but Eddie Wolecki Black’s side saw the match out to end 2019 with 16 wins out of 21, finishing with 13 points more than they did in 2018.

The Hoops had early chances with McGovern testing the keeper and Kelly Clark hitting just over from the corner within the first six minutes, before Ewens watched on as an effort inched just wide and another landed on the roof.

Ewens eventually broke the deadlock with her 21st goal of the season, appropriately in the 21st minute. Picking up the through ball, her defence-splitting run saw her drive into the area and pass the ball into the net to put Celtic 1-0 up.

Despite both sides pressing and searching for the next goal, it didn’t come until the 53rd minute. Celtic’s pressure inside the box paid off, as Ewens found herself in space to bear down on goal and tap it past Claire Whitaker from just a yard out at the near post.

Then, just two minutes later, McGovern found herself back on the scoresheet, as Ewens turned provider when she cut along the byline to deliver the ball low into McGovern’s feet for the teenager to take a touch and send a low effort beyond Whitaker.

Celtic looked set to see the game out comfortably on the basis of the 3-0 lead, but a dogged Stirling took advantage of loose play from the Hoops to press on the counter-attack and found a way back in on the hour mark, as the low cross across the face of goal was stabbed in by the sliding Emma Lyons.

Eddie Wolecki Black looked to his bench to make changes in an effort to shore up the waves of Stirling attacks, but ultimately they reduced the deficit to just one, as Caitlyn Jobanek scored an undeniably good effort, as she lobbed Chloe Logan from out wide deep into added time.

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

Celtic Women end 2019 season with fifth win on the bounce