Scottish Women’s Premier League
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Ainslie Park

SPARTANS... 0

CELTIC... 5
(Menglu 5, Craig 26, Gallacher 48, Hayes 86, Goldie 87)

Celtic FC Women continued their strong start to the SWPL season with an impressive 5-0 victory away to Spartans tonight (Wednesday).

An early strike from Shen Menglu was followed by Chloe Craig’s third goal of the season, the defender scoring from close range via a set-play.

Further goals followed in the second half as Amy Gallacher, Caitlin Hayes and Clare Goldie added to the scoresheet to ensure an emphatic win for Fran Alonso's side.

In both of their opening two games of the campaign, the Ghirls kicked things off in the ideal fashion, scoring inside the first five minutes, and that trend continued at Ainslie Park as Shen Menglu grabbed the first goal of the game in the opening stages.

After some fantastic work down the left hand side, the winger delivered a dangerous cross into the box, which was eventually scrambled clear, though only back to Menglu, who fired the ball under the Spartans goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

The Celts pressed forward in search of a second goal, with Kit Loferski and Amy Gallacher looking to add to their goals tally for the campaign.

Captain Kelly Clark twice slid passes into her attacking team-mates, but neither opportunity was converted.

However, Celtic were able to double their advantage just before the half-hour mark as Chloe Craig scored her third goal in as many games.

A corner into the box was headed goalwards by Caitlin Hayes, but her effort was tipped on to the crossbar. However, the ball fell into the path of Chloe Craig, who made no mistake with her half-volleyed finish.

Just before the break, Natalie Ross came close to extending the Hoops’ lead once more, trying her luck from long-range, but her shot was tipped over the bar by the Spartans keeper.

A similar trend of early goals in the second half also continued at Ainslie Park as Amy Gallacher scored her fifth of the campaign. Picking up the ball on the left hand side, the forward cut inside before unleashing a powerful strike into the bottom corner.

Further chances fell for Loferski and Gallacher once more, but they were both denied by the efforts of the Spartans goalkeeper.

However, in the closing stages, Fran Alonso's side added two late goals to continue their fine run of form in front of goal.

After coming so close in the first half, Hayes was able to get herself in on the act in the 86th minute, volleying the ball home from close-range after latching on the end of a corner.

And just one minute later, the Ghirls were at it again as Clare Goldie scored her first goal for the club with a wonderful finish.

The Academy graduate took a good first touch to set herself on the edge of the area, driving the ball into the net with her finish to round off the scoring.

Following another fantastic victory on the road, Celtic are back in action this weekend as they return to the Excelsior Stadium to face Dundee United on Sunday (August 27).

CELTIC: Logan, Barclais, Ross (Shen 64), Craig, Gallacher, Smith (Goldie 76), Cavanagh (Agnew 64), Clark, Hayes, Loferski (Partido 64), Menglu (McAneny 64).
Subs: Halliday, Burchill, Sharkey

Five-star Celts continue strong start to the new season