Celtic FC Women put themselves one step closer to first ever Scottish Women’s Premier League title as they saw off Partick Thistle at the Excelsior Stadium with a 3-0 victory that takes Elena Sadiku’s side just two wins away from becoming Scottish Champions.
Immediately, Celtic were on the front foot and were looking good in their press. The constant pressure would pay off as we would catch Thistle’s backline out with a brilliant ball to Murphy Agnew. Agnew did well to latch on to it and unselfishly, she rolled it across to Amy Gallacher, who had the easy task of tapping it into an empty net.
Celtic kept the pressure on and our players had a good few chances. Celya Barclais found herself in the box often but couldn’t get her shots off, and Natalie Ross was dominating the midfield, often attempting balls to our attackers.
But nothing else came in the first half, so the players looked to fight even harder in the second half against a hard working and well organised Partick Thistle side.
And just over the hour mark, Agnew doubled Celtic’s lead. The American kept pressing the Thistle defenders, looking to force them into mistakes. She took advantage of their passing at the back and sliced right through. Finding herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, she smashed the ball into the back of the net.
Just two minutes later, Shen Mengyu grabbed a third for the title chasing Celts. The China international timed her run perfectly and slotted it home. Great anticipation on display from the midfielder, who has looked immense recently in the centre of Celtic’s midfield.
Thistle looked to strike back as they started to force us into our own half. They quickly found out they couldn’t penetrate our defence, so they tried a long shot. It looked as though it was going in but Kelsey Daugherty pulled off a magnificent save to deny the Jags and also protect the ever increasing Celtic goal difference.
We got very close to a fourth in the dying embers as Chloe Craig looked to get her name on the scoresheet. The Thistle goalkeeper did well to deny her and Celtic had to settle for a three nil scoreline.
Decent performance. Great result.
At this point in the season, the points matter much more than the performance but it’s safe to say that we looked good over the 90 minutes as Elena rotated her squad with the two matches away to Hearts in midweek and then at Celtic Park next Sunday were history could be made with Celtic winning a first ever women’s title and Celtic becoming the first club to win both men and women titles in the same season.
Hearts v Celtic FC Women on Wednesday night kicks off at 6.10pm on Wednesday night and it’s live on BBC Alba before the vast majority of Celtic supporters watch the Kilmarnock v Celtic game on Sky Sports. Both matches have real importance in the two Celtic title pursuits.
You can get tickets to that tie against Hearts HERE. The Ghirls will need all the support they can get in the capital as if we win this, they’ll be getting the trophy cabinet prepared…and the Ghirls will need a large turnout from the Celtic support on Sunday against Hibs when history can be made.
Photos from Celtic FC Women 3-0 Partick Thistle to follow on The Celtic Star, the Celtic fan media site that supports Celtic FC Women everywhere they go, through thick and thin.
COYGIG!
Jessica Elliott
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