SWPL
Sunday, August 17, 2025
The Oriam, Edinburgh

HEARTS…1
(Timms 90)

CELTIC…2
(Cross 21, Ross 35)

Celtic FC Women picked up their first three points of the season on the opening day, running out 2-1 winners over Hearts.

First half goals from Morgan Cross and Natalie Ross gave the Hoops a well-deserved lead at the break.

There was no coming back from two behind for the home side, with a late consolation goal doing nothing to spoil a strong opening day display.

With the new season getting underway on Sunday afternoon, Elena Sadiku named her first starting 11 of the campaign.

That team included two new signings, with Lisa Robertson making her second debut as a Hoops player against her former side, alongside Claire Walsh in her first competitive outing.

There was also a place on the bench for Aislin Streicek, who signed for the club on Saturday afternoon.

The Hoops got off to a strong start as they aimed to pick up their opening three points of the season, and Emma Lawton thought she had scored the first goal of the new campaign.

The full-back powered home a superb header at the back post from a Lisa Robertson corner, but the referee judged that there was a foul inside the area.

That moment seemed to spur on the Ghirls’ first half display, with some brilliant football and pressing on display.

On this occasion, Lawton looked to turn provider, firing the ball to the back post for Emma Westin to head. But her effort went over the crossbar.

They didn’t have to wait much longer for their opener after some early pressure though as Morgan Cross opened the scoring just beyond the 20-minute mark.

Following a superb move, which saw Amy Gallacher slide the winger in behind, Cross made no mistake with her finish, firing the ball beyond the Hearts goalkeeper.

With the Celts doing really well to press the home side high up the pitch, and forcing them into mistakes, they didn’t have to wait long for their second either.

Natalie Ross was on hand to turn home the second, and her first of the season, reacting well to a loose ball, beating the goalkeeper to it and producing a dinked finish.

It was a superb first half display from Sadiku’s side, who set down and early marker in the opening half of the season.

Heading into the second half, the Celts looked to keep building on that display, with an early chance.

Following some good work from McAneny on the right, the midfielder found Cross inside the area with her delivery.

The forward got on the end of the ball but couldn’t quite connect properly as her effort went over the crossbar.

Just beyond the hour mark, Aislin Streicek came off the bench to mark her first appearance for Celtic.

With the Ghirls facing some spells of pressure, Lisa Rodgers and the entire backline were doing well to stave off any attacks.

The home side did manage to pull one back late on from the penalty spot after Natalie Ross was judged to have committed a foul.

However, it was too little, too late for the Jambos, with Celtic taking home all three points on their travels to open the season.

The Hoops will be aiming to build on that performance when they return to New Douglas Park next week, for their first home outing of the campaign.

CELTIC: Rodgers, Lawton, Clark, Walsh, Robertson, Momo, Ross, McAneny, Cross (McGoldrick 84), Westin (Streicek 55), Gallacher (Noonan 73).
Subs: Logan, Richardson, Dawson

Capital gains as Ghirls pick up opening day three points against Hearts