Scottish Women’s Premier League
Sunday, March 3, 2024
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

CELTIC… 6
(Gallacher 5, 19 & 86, Agnew 14, Flint 43, Smith 83)

PARTICK THISTLE… 1
(Henderson 25)

Celtic FC Women marked their return to action on Sunday afternoon by getting back to winning ways as they ran out 6-1 winners over Partick Thistle.

An Amy Gallacher hat-trick, alongside goals from Murphy Agnew, Tash Flint, and Jenny Smith sealed all three points in Elena Sadiku’s first home league match in charge.

With the Ghirls’ last outing come two weeks ago at Ibrox Stadium, the Celts were aiming to get back into the swing of things following the most recent international break.

The most notable change to the side from last time out saw Lucy Ashworth-Clifford make her first start since returning from injury.

And the Celts couldn’t have asked for a better start in their first match at Airdrie since late January as they opened the scoring inside the first five minutes.

Amy Gallacher was on hand to slot home her first of three for the afternoon after some persistent play from Murphy Agnew set the forward up for a tidy finish into the bottom corner.

Shortly after, the provider turned goalscorer as Agnew followed up her assist by getting herself on the scoresheet.

Chasing down a back pass to the goalkeeper, the American did well to press the Thistle goalkeeper, forcing her into a mistake before tapping the ball home from an angle into an empty net.

The impressive first-half performance continued with another goal as Gallacher grabbed her second of the afternoon just four minutes later.

Breaking through on goal, the Celtic striker remained composed before calmly placing the ball through the legs of the Jags shot-stopper to hand the Ghirls a three-goal advantage.

Partick Thistle did manage to pull a goal back from the penalty spot as Cara Henderson sent Kelsey Daugherty the wrong way from 12 yards out.

However, that didn’t deter the Hoops and before the break, there was time for another Celtic goal as Tash Flint took her recent goalscoring tally to four goals in as many games.

Making a good run across the front post, the striker was on hand to flick the ball towards the far bottom corner and make the score 4-0.

Continuing to dominant proceedings, the second half didn’t have as much goalmouth action for the Ghirls.

However, as the game entered the closing stages, the Hoops were eventually able to add to the scoring as substitute Jenny Smith got in on the act, slotting the ball into the bottom corner with a tidy finish from the edge of the area.

With four minutes remaining on the clock, there was time for Gallacher to secure her third of the match and take home the match ball with another decent finish following some unselfish play from Kit Loferski.

It was an impressive way for the Ghirls to make their return to action and the Excelsior Stadium, hitting the Jags for six.

Next up is another short break from league duties as the Celts take on Montrose in the last eight of the Scottish Cup next Sunday afternoon.

Hat-trick hero Gallacher helps the Hoops to victory over Partick Thistle