Scottish Women’s Premier League
Sunday, 14 January, 2024
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

CELTIC…9

(Menglu 4, Gallacher 14, 77, Burchill 23, 48, Cavanagh 54, Clark 57, Cummings 88, Agnew 90+4)

MONTROSE…0

Celtic FC Women marked their return to league action on Sunday afternoon by putting on a show at the Excelsior Stadium, defeating Montrose 9-0.

With seven different scorers getting on the scoresheet, it was another superb attacking display for the Ghirls as they picked up their first victory at home in 2024.

After returning to action last weekend with their 7-0 Scottish Cup victory over Ayr United, it was back to league duties for the Celts on Sunday afternoon.

For the first time in 2024, the Ghirls were playing in front of the Celtic supporters at the Excelsior Stadium and would have been looking to get back to winning ways in the SWPL.

And they made the perfect start to proceedings as Shen Menglu opened the scoring on her return to the squad.

Cutting inside of her marker onto her right foot, the winger directly a fantastic effort into the top corner of the net to give the Hoops the lead early on in the match.

That early momentum continued as Amy Gallacher followed up Menglu’s strike with a smart finish of her own to double the Celts’ advantage.

Latching onto a clever pass in behind the Montrose defence, the forward took a touch beyond the goalkeeper, which left her with the simple task of tapping the ball home into an empty net from close range.

The Ghirls continued to threaten throughout the half as both Natalie Ross and Colette Cavanagh tested the Montrose goalkeeper with efforts, which were ultimately comfortably held.

Celtic did find their way to net once more on 23 minutes though as Tiree Burchill rounded off a well-worked team move to score the Hoops’ third of the match.

A one-two on the right hand side between Caitlin Hayes and Amy Gallacher gave the defender space to deliver a cross to the back post where Burchill was waiting to slam the ball home.

The Academy youngster came closest to adding a further goal in the opening 45 minutes just moments later too, seeing her strike from the edge crash of the crossbar.

The Hoops may have hoped for more goals in the first half, but enjoying the majority of possession and playing their football inside the Montrose half, there was much to enjoy about the performance so far from Celtic.

And they would continue that control heading into the second 45 minutes of action, scoring a further five goals.

Kick-starting the second half in a similar fashion to the first, Tiree Burchill sealed her brace with a headed finish, being at the right place at the right time to meet Amy Gallacher’s inch perfect cross.

Colette Cavanagh was next on hand to score a thunderous strike from the edge of the area after a corner made its way into her path, before just minutes later captain Kelly Clark followed that up by heading home her first league goal of the campaign.

With the game beginning to enter the closing stages, Gallacher followed Burchill by grabbing a brace of her down as Cavanagh turned provider with a low cross into the box, which was tucked into the far bottom corner.

Following the Hoops’ seventh goal of the afternoon, David Haley and his coaching staff reintroduced Lucy Ashworth-Clifford to the action, who was making her first appearance in over a year due to long-term injury.

The winger clearly had an impact on the goal as the Celts continued to push forward, grabbing two further goals in the dying moments of the match.

Sydney Cummings was up first, grabbing her second goal for the club in as many games with a smart finish after Caitlin Hayes’ headed effort from a corner came crashing off the crossbar.

The game was then finally rounded off as substitute Murphy Agnew scored with the final touch of the ball, tapping the ball home from close range after some unselfish play from Gallacher in the final third.

It was the ideal way for the Celts to make their return to league duties, with another big game on the horizon next Friday evening in the Sky Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers.

That match will also be new manager Elena Sadiku’s first in charge, with the Hoops boss beginning her role tomorrow.

Ghirls hit Montrose for nine on their return to SWPL action