SWPL Cup

Group A, Game 3

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Spartans Academy, Edinburgh

SPARTANS… 1

(Galbraith, 82)

CELTIC… 4

(Green 40, Ewens 73, McGovern 78, Giard 88)

CELTIC produced a sweeping 4-1 win over Spartans in the capital to ensure they finished top of Group A and secure their place in the quarter-finals of the SWPL Cup.

The Hoops again defied tough conditions and high winds to continue their unbeaten start to 2020, as Summer Green, Sarah Ewens, Kathleen McGovern and Josephine Giard were on target in the must-win tie.

The visitors created the best of the chances in the opening stages, with Lisa Robertson and Anita threatening Alicia Yates’ goal, but the deadlock was finally broken with 40 minutes on the clock. Natalie Ross picked out Green on the right, who pressed forward to cut in and curl in a wonderful left-footed effort into the far side netting.

Celtic continued to create in the second half with Anita and Green threatening, but patience seemed to be a virtue for the Celts in Edinburgh.

The Hoops’ dominance on the ball eventually paid off as Ewens grabbed her fifth of the season so far in the 73rd minute. Giard’s clever slip to McGovern in the middle allowed the striker to side-foot the ball on to Ewens who, sandwiched between the two centre-halves, took it down well to round Yates and fire it into the empty net.

And just five minutes later the Celts had a third. Green’s lofted corner bounced around the area before Ewens knocked it back into the six yard box, and after Chloe Craig’s effort was denied, the vice-captain held back to allow McGovern to pounce and bury it from close-range.

The hosts reduced the deficit to two with 12 minutes to go. Spartans skipper Alana Marshall broke from deep inside the hosts’ half to place a well-timed ball for Becky Galbraith to convert her first-time finish low beyond Chloe Logan.

McGovern then did well to reclaim the ball in the middle of the park to smartly and quickly spin to play Ewens in, who turned provider to drill a low cross deep into Giard’s path, seeing the German coolly finish with ease at the post with two minutes of normal time left, and seal the Hoops’ place in the quarter-finals.

Celtic: Logan, McCulloch (Donaldson, 75), Craig, Clark (Nicolson, 75), Warrington (McBrearty, 60), Ross, Teegarden (Giard, 57), Robertson, Green, Ewens, Anita (McGovern, 66)

Subs: Kerr

Celts march on to SWPL Cup quarter-final with capital win