Scottish Women’s Premier League
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Links Park, Montrose

MONTROSE... 0

CELTIC... 9
(Loferski 3, 21, 37 & 89, Craig 23, Gallacher 46, 70, Addi 67, OG 14)

Celtic FC Women got the season underway in style, defeating Montrose 9-0 in the opening game of the SWPL campaign.

A first half hat-trick from Kit Loferski led the charge as Amy Gallacher followed up with a brace, along with goals from Chloe Craig, summer signing Nour Imane Addi, another Loferski goal late inth e game as well as an own goal.

Kit Loferski opened her account for the season after just three minutes, rounding the goalkeeper and tapping the ball home into the empty net.

The Celts were causing plenty of trouble down both wings as they attempted to carve open the home side's defence. And Shen Menglu was able to do exactly that, playing a key part in Celtic doubling their lead early in the first half.

Beating her marker on the left-hand side, Menglu delivered a dangerous ball to the back post, which was turned home by a Montrose defender.

The goals in the opening 45 minutes continued to come for the Hoops as Loferski scored her second of the game.

The forward was set upby Amy Gallacher who did brilliantly to control the ball and slot it into the path of the American, and Loferski made no mistake with her finish at the back post.

Just minutes later, the Celts had their fourth of the game, and this time it came via Chloe Craig, who was in the right place at the right time after a scramble inside the area from a corner.

Before the break, there was even enough time to grab another goal and round off what had been a five-star first half performance.

More good work down the left from Menglu gave the wide player some space to unleash a shot, which thundered off the post.

However, Loferski was on hand to slot the ball home for a first-half hat-trick.

Within seconds of the restart Amy Gallacher was able to get herself on the scoresheet. Picking up the ball inside the area, the forward produced a fantastic turn and finish, slotting the ball home into the back of the net.

After an emphatic showing in the first hour of the match, Fran Alonso was able to make changes to his side, introducing new faces including Murphy Agnew and Nour Imane Addi.

And the latter of the new signings started off her Celtic career with a goal. Following some unselfish play from Gallacher, the Moroccan internationalist sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with an impressive finish.

After playing her part in setting up Celtic’s seventh, Gallacher was on the scoresheet once more, slotting the ball into the top corner following Maria McAneny’s cutback on the edge of the area.

With the game entering the closing stages, the player who started the scoring rounded things off at Links Park as Loferski scored her fourth of the game.

A powerful strike from Murphy Agnew cannoned off the underside of the crossbar, which the America was able to react quickest too, heading it home from close range.

For the second season running, Fran Alonso’s squad kicked-off the new season with a 9-0 win, and they will aim to continue that momentum when they take on Hamilton Accies in the first home game of the campaign at the Excelsior Stadium next weekend.

CELTIC: Logan, Barclais (Burchill 59), Ross (Agnew 59), Craig, Gallacher (Sharkey 84), Smith (Addi 59), Cavanagh, Clark, Hayes, Loferski, Menglu (McAneny 68).
Subs: Ferns, Cusack, Goldie, Barclay

Celtic FC Women kick off the season with emphatic win over Montrose