Celtic booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup after a Chloe Craig second half double was enough to see off St Johnstone in the last 16.
Report / Image: Celtic FC
The substitute’s penalty and header was all that separated the sides despite Celtic enjoying the lion’s share of the ball as they bounced back from last weekend’s disappointment with a win and a spot in the hat for Wednesday’s draw.
Celtic opened the game well, establishing early dominance with Sarah Ewens and Josephine Giard creating chances from the wide areas, calling keeper Rebecca Cameron into action. Around the quarter-hour mark, Kelly Clark picked out Giard who drove to the byline, but her final ball across was too much, before she was in action again on the 22nd, as she did well to dispossess her marker on the wing, spinning away to cut in before being brought down near the area. Emma Black’s delivery resulted in a series of corners, but it remained goalless.
The Hoops continued to form opportunities as the game grew, forcing the visitors to concede a number of free-kicks near the box, with Black’s effort from the wide area in to Rachael O’Neill who sent a low drive through bodies that deflected out for a corner proving the closest. In additional time, Natalie Ross did well to take inside the area, but her chip was off target, before Ewens’ low free-kick under the wall skimmed just wide seeing both sides heading into the break level.
The hosts continued to enjoy possession as the second-half got underway, but the breakthrough finally came courtesy of a penalty.
McGovern went down under the challenge just inside the box on the 61st, leaving substitute Craig to convert just six minutes after coming on.
The dominance on the ball continued, with Emma Craig linking up well with McGovern and Ross to test the keeper, before Emma Craig and Kelsey Hodges both headed wide from corners. But Craig rubber stamped the win with seven minutes of normal time left to play, rising highest to head Black’s floated free-kick through Cameron’s stretching hands, seeing the Hoops through to the quarter final stages.
Celtic: Logan, McBrearty (Keenan), McCulloch (Hodges), O’Neill (C Craig), Black, Clark, Ross, Smart (Donaldson), Giard (E Craig), Ewens, McGovern
Subs: Hay, Cunningham
Celtic play Stirling University in the SWPL1 on Sunday 1 September at K-Park. Adults £5, concessions £3, under-16s free.
