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Spartans losing
streak continued
with Celtic
winning 3-0 at
Ainslie Park,
scoring three
second half
goals to seal
the victory and
maintain the
pressure on
second placed
team Hibs.
However it did
take until the
65th
minute for the
deadlock to be
broken with Abby
Harrison tapping
the ball home
from three yards
out. Within ten
minutes Celtic
doubled their
lead with
Suzanne Grant
putting the ball
into the back of
the net at the
back post and
Celtic wrapped
the game up in
the dying
minutes with
Heather Richards
firing the ball
home after the
ball broke to
the striker.
Spartans started
the game
brightly and
within two
minutes came
close to opening
the scoring but
for a punched
clearance by
Gemma Fay in the
Celtic goal.
Spartans were
awarded a corner
after some
persistent play
by Alana
Marshall down
the left wing.
The winger took
the resulting
corner which was
punched clear by
the Scotland
Number 1 and
away from the
danger zone.
Celtic started
to create
chances of their
own and moments
after Fay had
cleared the
danger, Suzanne
Grant broke
clear of the
Spartans defence
and, as she
entered the box,
fired a ball
towards the
bottom corner
only to see the
outstretched
hand of Rachel
Harrison tip the
ball around the
post.
Spartans were
continuing to
press for an
opener and came
close 18 minutes
in with Trisha
McLaughlin
having her shot
squandered by
Fay. Alana
Marshall broke
clear on the
halfway line
and, after
skipping past
two challenges,
played the ball
into the path of
Diana Barry
whose first-time
flick found
McLaughlin.
However the
Celtic keeper
was quickly off
her line to
block the
winger’s shot
and clear the
danger from the
away side’s
goal.
The Spartans
winger was
starting to
create chances
and minutes
later had a shot
from distance
only to see it
saved easily by
Fay. McLaughlin
picked the ball
up wide on the
right and after
twisting and
turning cut
infield before
crashing in a
left foot shot
but straight
into the arms of
Fay in the
Celtic goal.
Celtic rode
their luck
minutes before
half time as a
fierce
McLaughlin cross
was only just
put behind by
Chloe Arthur
with Fay
stranded on the
goal-line.
Claire Crosbie
picked the ball
up midway
through the half
and fed
McLaughlin down
the right wing.
After escaping
the grasps of
the defence the
winger sent over
a low drive
which was
cleared past the
post by Arthur.
However it was
the away side
who, after 65
minutes, opened
the scoring with
Abby Harrison
tapping the ball
home from four
yards out. Grant
charged down the
right wing and,
after getting to
the bye-line,
cut the ball
over to the
unmarked
Harrison to tap
the ball home.
Within ten
minutes it was
2-0 as Grant
fired the ball
home from inside
the six yard
box. Heather
Richards flew
down the left
wing and, like
the first goal,
sent over a
vicious low
cross to the far
post where Grant
was unmarked to
tap the ball
home.
Celtic wrapped
the game up just
before the final
whistle with
Richards getting
the break of the
ball outside box
before driving
into the area
and placing the
ball past the
advancing Rachel
Harrison in the
Spartans goal.
The Spartans
goalkeeper kept
the score down
in the closing
minutes as she
pulled off a
point blank save
from the feet of
Grant. Celtic
were awarded a
corner four
minutes from
time which was
swung in by
Hayley Sinclair
to the far post
where Grant,
with her second
touch, smashed
the ball towards
the goal only to
see Harrison
pull of a great
save and block
the striker from
scoring.
Spartans did
create their
best opportunity
of the game
moments before
the final
whistle however
Sarah Ewens sent
a curling shot
whistling past
the post. Lana
Clelland, who
had come on for
Captain Louise
Young, won the
ball on the left
wing and played
the ball into
Ewens who had
created space
behind the
Celtic defence.
After taking a
touch, the
forward curled
the ball past
Fay only to see
it curl wide of
the goal.
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