Scottish Women’s Premier League
Sunday, 10 December, 2023
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

CELTIC…7
(Hayes 51, 80, Gallacher 61, Smith 66, Goldie 73, Barclais 77, Agnew 90)

SPARTANS…0

Celtic FC Women rounded off their final home match of 2023 in style, after a terrific second-half performance saw the Ghirls run out 7-0 winners over Spartans.

After pilling the pressure on the visitors in the opening 45 minutes, the Ghirls were made to wait for the opener.

However, Fran Alonso’s side were rewarded for their patience as goals from Caitlin Hayes, Amy Gallacher, Jenny Smith, Clare Goldie, Celya Barclais and Murphy Agnew sealed all three points.

Despite going into the break at 0-0, the Hoops had plenty of opportunities to break the deadlock inside the first-half of action.

Resolute defending from the Edinburgh side saw Murphy Agnew and Chloe Craig denied early on in the game as they looked to make the perfect start once more.

As the half went on, the Celts continued to put pressure on the Spartans goal and Caitlin Hayes was unfortunate not to open the scoring with a powerful effort, which clattered off the crossbar.

In the dying stages, both Amy Gallacher and Colette Cavanagh were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet as two efforts from inside the area were cleared off the line.

Heading into the second half, it seemed to be only a matter of time before the all-important opener came Celtic’s way.

And inside the first six minutes of the half, Hayes got the Celts off the mark with another fantastic header inside the area.

Following a nice exchange between Agnew and Paula Partido on the right-hand side, the Spaniard hung a splendid cross in the area, which was met perfectly by Hayes to head home.

Just past the hour-mark, the Ghirls found the way to goal once more as Gallacher followed up her hat-trick from before the international break with another goal.

A corner into the box was once again met by Hayes, who this time hit the post with her effort. However, the subsequent rebound fell the way of Gallacher, who took a touch to set herself before placing the ball in the roof of the net.

The goals continued to flow in the second half for the Hoops as Jenny Smith made it 3-0 just a matter of moments later.

Picking up the ball inside the box, the midfielder’s deflected effort landed in the back of the net.

With the three points all but sealed after three goals in the second half, Fran Alonso introduced more substitutes to the game, including Goldie and Barclais.

And both those players made an instant impact off the bench, grabbing the Celts’ fourth and fifth goal of the afternoon.

Following her strike from close range last time out against Aberdeen, Goldie made it two goals in two games with a clinical finish into the bottom corner.

Barclais was next to get in on the act as the defender showcased her striker’s instincts. After a strike on goal was well blocked off, the French full-back was quickest to react inside the penalty area, smashing the ball home.

After opening the scoring in the match, Caitlin Hayes was able to grab her second goal of the day. Another dangerous set-piece delivery appeared to be heading goal bounds from the head of Chloe Craig, before the last touch came off the defender.

The scoring was rounded off in the final moments of the match, with Agnew scoring her fourth goal in her last two appearances.

Hitting the away side on the break, a pinpoint pass from Gallacher found the feet of the American, who made no mistake with her left-footed finish.

The Hoops rounded off their final home match of 2023 in front of the Celtic support with another fantastic display.

Next weekend, the Ghirls will play out their final SWPL fixture before the upcoming winter break as they travel to the capital to take on Hearts at the Oriam.

Ghirls hit magnificent seven in final home match of the year