SWPL
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Petershill Park

PARTICK THISTLE…0

CELTIC…7

(Gallacher 26, 50, Cross 28, 71, Ross 30, Momo 75, McAneny79)

Celtic FC Women maintained their strong start to the season with another top performance on the road, running out 7-0 winners against Partick Thistle.

After racing into a three-goal lead in the first half thanks to goals from Amy Gallacher, Morgan Cross and Natalie Ross, the Ghirls were in no mood to stop there.

An emphatic second half display seen Gallacher and Cross grab braces, with Momo Nakao and Maria McAneny following up their strikes from last week.

With two wins in their opening two matches, it has been a very positive start to the 2025/26 campaign so far for Elena Sadiku’s side.

The Ghirls were aiming to continue that early run of performances as they made the short trip to Petershill.

The Celtic Head Coach made just one change to the side that ran out 5-0 winners last week against Hamilton, with Lisa Robertson coming in to replace Saoirse Noonan.

That seen Amy Gallacher make the move up front, leading the line for the Celts as they took on Partick Thistle.

From early on, the Celtic number seven was causing havoc for the Thistle backline, dropping deep to receive the ball and also making well timed runs in behind.

Gallacher almost created the first opening of the match for the Hoops, sliding an awkward cross into the area, but it was just out of the reach of Morgan Cross.

Having made that positive start, it almost felt like a matter of time until Gallacher laid her mark on the match, and that came on 26 minutes.

Following some brilliant pressing high up the pitch from Celtic, the forward was played through one-on-one. Remaining composed, Gallacher made no mistake, tucking the ball home.

That strike kicked off a quick scoring spree, with the Celts grabbing their second and third just moment later.

Morgan Cross continued her scoring run of grabbing a goal in each of the Ghirls’ matches this season, producing a clever back-heeled finish from Emma Lawton’s cross.

It took just two minutes for Natalie Ross to then add a third, reacting quickest in the box to smash home a loose ball into the back of the Thistle net.

It was very much a half that Elena Sadiku and her side could be happy with, creating plenty of opportunities.

Having spoken about the need to be clinical in the lead up to the Thistle match, the Celts were certainly out to show that, with a further four goals in the second half.

Just five minutes after the break, Gallacher doubled her tally for the season, confidently stroking the ball home from the penalty spot, after the referee had judged the Thistle defender to have handled Aislin Streicek’s delivery.

It was another of the first half scorers, who would continue the goals into the second as Morgan Cross sealed a brace.

Following some persistent work from Momo Nakao, the midfielder squared the ball to her team-mate, to simply tap home from close range.

Having set Cross up for the fourth goal of the afternoon, Momo was in the mood for goals after opening her account with a first for Celtic last week.

The Japanese midfielder produced a terrific finish to add Celtic’s sixth of the afternoon, smashing a powerful strike into the roof of the net.

The scoring was rounded off just over ten minutes from time as Maria McAneny also scored her second of the campaign.

With the Hoops once again troubling Partick with their press, McAneny picked up the ball, before cutting inside and curling home.

There was also time for another Academy debut as Mirren Duncan made her first senior appearance for the Celts, having just been called up to the matchday squad for the first time.

With three wins from their opening three games, it is a terrific way to continue the strong start to the season for the Ghirls.

Next up, is a return home for the opening Glasgow derby of the campaign as the Celts welcome Rangers to New Douglas Park.

Celts romp to seven goal victory over Partick Thistle