Scottish Women’s Premier League
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
New Douglas Park, Hamilton

HAMILTON ACCIES... 0

CELTIC... 7
(Flint 15 & 57, Ross 23, Menglu 43, Shen 59, O.G 63, Chance 66)

Celtic FC Women put in another impressive goalscoring display on Wednesday evening as they defeated Hamilton Accies 7-0 in the SWPL.

First half strikes from Natasha Flint, Natalie Ross and Shen Menglu kick-started the ideal preparations for this weekend’s top of the table clash against Glasgow City.

Despite making five early changes in the second half, Fran Alonso's side continued to push on, as Flint, Shen Mengyu, Liv Chance and an Accies own goal added to the Hoops strong exploits in front of goal.

In the early stages, Celtic had to be patient on the ball as they looked to break Hamilton’s low defensive block in search of the first goal.

Jacynta was looking dangerous, having a few efforts from range which were ultimately dealt with by the Accies keeper.

Hamilton had very few flurries forward in the game. However, they had an audacious effort within the first 10 minutes. Josi Giard attempted to catch Pamela Tajonar out with a shot from just inside the Celtic half, but her effort went wide of the target.

The breakthrough for Celtic came on 15 minutes as Natasha Flint got off the mark for club with her first goal since joining in the January window.

The striker was a little fortuities with her finish, finding herself on the end of Liv Fergusson’s cross, but she created her own luck, putting the Hamilton defence under pressure, resulting in the home side failing to clear the ball out the six-yard box.

And she was in the right place at the right time to tuck the ball under the goalkeeper for the opening goal of the game.

Just over eight minutes later Natalie Ross made it 2-0, the midfielder the first to react after a long-range effort from Jacynta was too powerful for the Accies keeper to hold.

Just before the break, Celtic managed to grab a third goal through Shen Menglu. The majority of the Celts attacking play in the opening 45 minutes seemed to be coming down the right hand side.

But, the third goal would come from the left. Cutting in on her right foot, Menglu decided to try a long-range effort, and the strength of the strike was too much for the Hamilton goalkeeper, as the ball landed in the back of the net.

With a big game against Glasgow City to come on Sunday, Fran Alonso was able to ring the changes at the beginning of the second, bringing on a trio of substitutes after the break, swiftly followed by a further two.

And it one of those subs, Amy Gallacher, who made an almost impact by winning a penalty after skipping by her marker before being brought down just inside the area.

The resulting spot-kick was taken by Flint, who perfectly dispatched the ball into the back of the net to add her second and Celtic’s fourth.

The Hoops were in the mood for more goals, and just minutes later Shen Mengyu was on hand to put the Celts 5-0 up. The attacker showed great determination to latch on to a cross at the back post, forcing the ball over the line.

Gallacher came desperately close to a goal of her own, after picking up the ball on the edge and swivelling to find space. Her effort looked destined for the far corner, but it was well saved by the Hamilton goalkeeper who tipped the ball round the post.

However, from the resulting corner Celtic did get their sixth goal of the night. A number of bodies challenged for the ball into the middle of the six-yard box by Maria McAneny, and it ended up in the net via an Accies head.

Liv Chance has an excellent record at New Douglas Park, having scored on her last two visits to the ground. And that goalscoring run continued on Wednesday evening, as the New Zealand internationalist was next to get on the scoresheet from a Celtic corner to make it 7-0.

Fran Alonso’s side continued to push for more goals, and it almost came with just minutes left as McAneny struck the post with an effort from inside the box.

The Hoops can be delighted with their display, which sets the team up for Sunday’s top of the table clash with Glasgow City at the Excelsior Stadium.

CELTIC: Tajonar, Otto, O’Riordan (Chance 46), Robertson, Ross (McAneny 58), Jacynta (Gallacher 46), Shen, Clark, Fergusson, Flint (Goldie 58), Menglu (Bowie 46).
Subs: Kerner, Hayes, Cusack, Ferns

Magnificent seven for Celtic as Hoops sink Hamilton