Glasgow City 2-0 Celtic Women
SWPL1
Petershill Park
Sunday 5th August 2018
After a six week summer break, the women’s football season in Scotland is back across the board so it’s time for another trip to Petershill to see if SWPL Cup finalists Celtic can put a dent in City’s 12 in a row bid.
The Venue
I’ve previously spoken about Petershill here so won’t go into any further details here. The attendance today was swelled considerably by a large group from North Texas Celtic, an all ages club from Dallas who have travelled over to Scotland to watch Celtic’s men’s team take on AEK Athens in the Champions League qualifiers this coming midweek.
The Teams
I have spoken at length about Glasgow City in the past and see no real need to delve into their storied history again. Since the last time I saw them, Christie Murray has left to sign for Liverpool, with Maddie Hill also having left the club. City have signed three players in the summer break, with Jenna Clark joining from Rangers, Slovenian international Lara Ivanuša joining from Olimpija Ljubljana and Bosnian international Lidija Kuliš arriving from Turbine Potsdam. The side sit second in SWPL1, behind Hibs on only goals scored.
Celtic Women are a part of the larger Celtic FC, using the club’s training facilities and run under the same banner, They use K-Park Training Academy in East Kilbride as their home ground. Celtic’s close season has seen manager David Haley step down to take control of the club’s academy. Former City manager Eddie Wolecki Black will take charge of the team as soon as he has guided his current club Motherwell to promotion. Edward Gallagher is in current charge. Celtic sit third in SWPL1, albeit some way back from Hibs and City. They were SWPL Cup finalists this season.
The Game
City were on the front foot almost from the word go, and with only four minutes played, a long free kick from Leanne Ross was only just missed by the head of Donna Paterson with the Celtic defence scrambling. Two minutes later though, Celtic had a chance of their own when Sarah Ewens made a surging run down the right wing. Her cross was cut out by Ross and the danger was cleared away. City began to push forward in numbers and with nine minutes gone, Lidija Kuliš worked well down the left before sending the ball towards Lara Ivanuša in the box. The Slovenian couldn’t make a proper connection though and the ball was gratefully collected by Celtic keeper Emily Mutch.
Less than sixty seconds later, Ivanuša had another chance when she received the ball just inside the box after some excellent midfield work from Sam Kerr. The shot flew just wide, but City were looking hungry. Celtic did manage occasional ventures up the park but their best chance of the early period was a long range effort from Rachel Donaldson that never really looked like troubling Lee Alexander in the City goal. On the contrary, City looked dangerous almost every time they got into the attacking third. With 16 minutes gone, Abbi Grant turned wonderfully around 25 yards from goal before rattling a shot off the post.
Mutch put her side in a bit of jeopardy after 20 minutes when she spent too long dealing with a back pass and saw Ivanuša charge down the ball. It fell just wide of the post and the Celtic keeper’s blushes were saved. Three minutes later though, the home side were ahead. A free kick from Ross near the left corner was sent into the box and headed into her own net by the unfortunate Kathleen McGovern. Three minutes later, the lead was doubled when Grant latched onto a ball over the top from Leanne Crichton. Grant rounded Mutch and squeezed the ball into the net from the tightest of angles.
Donaldson continued to impress for the visitors, and with 32 minutes gone she again burst down the right wing but found no-one in the box to cross to. With ten minutes of the half remaining, some good link up play between Grant and Megan Foley saw Kerr with the chance to shoot at the edge of the box. Her shot was dragged just wide. Kerr had another excellent chance in the dying minutes of the first half after some wonderful play from Kuliš. Mutch produced an excellent save to tip the ball over the bar and keep the score at 2-0 going into half time.
The second half was a tame affair, with City happy to sit in possession without threatening too much, and Celtic unable to get any sort of meaningful attack going. Kirsty Howat struck the bar for the hosts, and a 30 yard Ross free kick sailed only just over the bar during the course of a second half that played more like a training session than a game. City clearly had eyes on their upcoming Champions League triple-header, making five substitutions and barely getting out of second gear. It was a comfortable win, and there’s clearly much more to come from this side.
The Pies
There was a full catering service on offer in the café/bar inside Petershill’s club buildings. Not knowing if there would be food on offer, I had eaten before the game and didn’t sample the what looked to be pretty good fare today.
Admission: £5
Programme: None
Pie: £2
Bovril: £1.50
Attendance: 320 (approx)
Pies on the Terraces 