#SBSSWPL1: Celtic FC v Glasgow City FC
Celtic on fire as they record famous Glasgow City Victory
CELTIC…4
(Ross, 16, Ewens, 37, 94, Giard 62)
GLASGOW CITY…1
(Love, 47)
IT was an afternoon to remember on Sunday as a high-flying and relentless Celtic side stormed to a famous victory, recording a statement-laden 4-1 win over recently-crowned champions, Glasgow City.
Report / Image: Celtic FC
The visitors’ domination of the SWPL stretches all the way back to June 2016 when they last suffered a defeat. However, with Celtic snapping at their heels all season and both league meetings seeing the teams only separated by a solitary goal, Eddie Wolecki Black’s side were in wonderland as they became the first team to take points off the champions this season.
Celtic hadn’t got the better of their city rivals since 2008, when Sunday’s City captain, Leanne Crichton and scorer, Jo Love both scored to see the Hoops 2-1 victors, but goals from Natalie Ross, Sarah Ewens and Josephine Giard sealed the massive win for the Celts at a rainy K-Park.
The result means only Celtic and Glasgow City have defeated every team in the league this season, and leaves Ewens having scored against all other seven clubs in the division.
Celtic’s intent was clear from the off as they pressed City immediately, and just after the quarter-hour mark though, the Hoops found the dream start they were hunting for.
A silky piece of interplay through the middle saw Keeva Keenan link-up with Ross to play in McGovern in the middle, who picked out Ewens to see her smartly turn and release Ross, who made no mistake firing her effort across the face of goal and into the net.
Ewens then got in on the act herself as she side footed Keenan’s cross across the goal and watched as it slipped through Erin Clacher’s fingertips and trickled over the line, doubling the lead on the 37th minute.
Just two minutes into the second half the champions pulled one back as Kirsty Howat turned inside the box controlling the throw in, before placing it for Love to duly slot in.
However, the determined hosts restored their two-goal cushion, as Giard did well to stay on her feet inside the area to blast it right into the near post on the 62nd minute.
City looked dangerous in the closing stages, but the day was set to be Celtic’s, as K-Park erupted when a moment of magic saw the Celts truly stamp their authority on the game. Ross turned chipped a ball over the top for the onrushing Ewens, who kept her composure to drive towards Clachers and swerve it past the keeper from just outside the area with 84 minutes on the clock.
An unrivalled sense of joy and achievement rang around K-Park as the Celts moved that one step closer to keeping the pressure on second-placed Hibs with two games to go.
Celtic: Cunningham, Keenan, Clark, Craig, McBrearty, Donaldson, Smart, Ross, Giard, McGovern (Hay), Ewens
Subs: Logan, Henderson, Reside, Hodges
