Scottish Women’s Premier League
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
Sunday, April 2, 2023

CELTIC… 2
(Gallacher 38, OG 70)

PARTICK THISTLE… 0

Celtic FC Women took all three points with a 2-0 home win over Partick Thistle. Amy Gallacher put the Hoops ahead before the break before a second half own goal secured victory in a frustrating afternoon which saw three goals chalked off for the Hoops.

Celtic were looking to return to winning ways after Monday night’s 1-1 draw against Rangers and they applied plenty of early pressure on the visitors, winning numerous corners in the first 10 minutes, along with the flag being raised twice and Megan Cunningham denying Jacynta from distance.

With 14 minutes on the clock, Taylor Otto thought she had opened the scoring after she sweetly caught it on the volley at the corner and wheeled away in celebration, but the referee called it back for an earlier foul.

Kit Loferski was unlucky to not to mark her full debut with her first goal for the club as she looked to put the Hoops in front on the 24th minute with her header, but Gallacher finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute.

Jacynta threaded the ball into space for Gallacher to drive on to and pick up before running at Cunningham’s goal to place the shot beyond the keeper’s reach.

Buoyed by their goal, the Celts looked to extend their lead in added time, with Shen Mengyu dragging a low effort just wide, before Jacynta was brought down at the edge of the area allowing Gallacher to eye up a second, but her free-kick sailed just over the bar.

It was an eventful opening five minutes to the second period, with Loferski again providing a threat before Cunningham was called into a double save.

And in the 54th minute Caitlin Hayes directed Liv Chance’s looping header into the net at the backpost, but the flag was up to deny her a goal.

With 20 minutes remaining, a stroke of fortune followed lovely play from the Celts to grab a second.

Shen Menglu knocked it on to Chance from the middle of the park, who then found Jacynta, all while Menglu occupied the space out wide to run at the byline and cross, watching on as Rosie Slater turned it into her own net.

Five minutes later, Celtic had the ball in the net again, this time having it ruled out for an injured Thistle player in the goalmouth, but it was enough to seal all three points ahead of the international break.

Celtic: Tajonar, Otto (Ross 62), O’Riordan, Gallacher (Flint 62), Jacynta (Craig 83), Shen, Chance, Kerner (McAneny 62), Hayes, Loferski, Bowie (Menglu 62).
Subs: Logan, Robertson, Clark, Fergusson.

Gallacher on target as Hoops beat Partick Thistle