Celtic 1
Ross 70
Hibernian 3
Small 48, Harrison 52, Turner 78
With both teams coming into this game unbeaten, this promised to be an entertaining match with the Celts looking to continue their good form.
However it turned out to be Hibernian who would continue their undefeated start to the season.
Celtic started well in the game and indeed created the first opportunity within only two minutes of the game with Kirsty Howat firing over the bar from close distance.
It was Hibs who had the next opportunity of the game on 14 minutes with a free kick right on the edge of the box in a central position but it was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Megan Cunningham in the end.
Shortly after that again however it was Celtic who responded after a long pass from Courtney Whyte found Jaclyn Poucel who cut inside on her left foot and fired a shot which was tipped wide by the Hibs goalkeeper.
The game was going at quite a pace as both teams were looking open the scoring and Celtic were starting to have slightly more territorial advantage with a number of corners and shots from distance.
However, it was Hibs who had the next clear strike at goal with Katey Turner driving a low shot which was tapped in at the far corner by Abi Harrison only to be chalked off for offside.
The visitors then had the best chance of the game so far with Katey Turner being sent clean through but she placed her shot wide of the post.
Right on the stroke of half-time Celtic rallied and created their best opportunity of the game with Kerry Montgomery placing the ball across goal for Howat to put in but blasted the ball over the bar from six yards out.
The second half didn’t start well for the Hoops and Hibernian opened the scoring on 48 minutes with a shot from an angle which hit the post and bounced back off the keeper to trickle over the line and put Hibernian one goal to the good.
They then increased that advantage on 52 minutes after a long ball found Harrison’s head and she looped the ball over Cunningham to put Hibernian two up.
Celtic worked hard to get back into the game and but Hibernian were proving difficult to break down. However after a ball played by Heather Richards over the Hibs defence, Howat was pushed in the box and on 70 minutes Celtic got themselves back in the game with penalty neatly converted by Natalie Ross.
With Celtic pushing forward and trying to find an equaliser they seemed to again have territorial advantage without ever really troubling the Hibernian goalkeeper.
The Hoops were then caught with a long ball again over the top for Harrison to square for Turner to fire home from six yards. Hibernian saw out the game comfortably as Celtic couldn’t create much despite their best efforts
Celtic will be disappointed with their performance on the day and know they will have to improve when the teams meet again in a few weeks’ time. Before that, however, the Hoops have a semi-final next week against Spartans at Ainslie Park
Manager, David Haley, said: “We are extremely disappointed with our performance and didn’t do ourselves justice at all.
“We didn’t defend well which is not like us at all as this has been our strong point over the last few weeks.
“I know we can’t play as poorly as that again and I know the girls will respond positively in our next outing against Spartans.
“This is a huge game for all concerned but I am confident we will certainly have a positive reaction and will be looking to secure a place in the SWPL Cup final.”
Celtic: Cunningham, Poucel, Whyte (Dalgliesh), Clark, Napier, McFarlane, Ross, Montgomery, Crilly (Richards), Howat, Ewens.
Subs: Gibson, Hodges, McBrearty, Rafferty, Fulton.
Reported by Celtic FC
Picture Celtic FC
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