Scottish Women’s Premier League
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

CELTIC... 7
(Loferski 5, Gallacher 6, 30, Craig 17, Mengyu 48, Burchill 78, Barclais 90+1)

HAMILTON ACCIES... 1
(Giard 38)

Celtic FC Women made it back-to-back wins to kick off the SWPL season, defeating Hamilton Accies 7-1 at the Excelsior Stadium this afternoon (Sunday).

First-half goals from the clinical duo of Kit Loferski and Amy Gallacher, alongside a Chloe Craig penalty, were followed by goals in the second half from Shen Mengyu and Tiree Burchill, while Celya Barclais scored the seventh goal in added time.

Within the opening minute of the game, Chloe Craig tested the Hamilton goalkeeper with a strike from range which was brilliantly tipped round the post.

Amd just as they had done last week, it didn’t take long for Celtic to open the scoring and it was once again Kit Loferski on the scoresheet.

Fresh off the back of scoring four on the opening weekend of the season, the American forward put the Hoops in the lead after glancing Maria McAneny’s corner into the back of the net.

Just minutes later, Loferski turned provider as she set up the Celts’ second of the game for Amy Gallacher to strike home. Laying the ball back into the path of her strike partner, Gallacher made no mistake with her finish, tucking the ball home into the bottom corner.

After testing Hamilton shot-stopper, Chloe Nicolson with a few efforts from range, it took until the17th minute for the Ghirls to grab their third of the game from the penalty spot.

Some neat play inside the area from Gallacher saw the forward fouled, and Chloe Craig stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way.

After winning the spot-kick for Craig to tuck home, Gallacher grabbed her second and Celtic’s fourth on the half-hour mark.

In almost a mirror image of one of last week’s strikes, the former Hibernian striker wonderfully spun round her marker, before placing the ball into the bottom corner.

Celtic were quickly looking to match last weekend’s half-time scoreline of 5-0 at the break, as Loferski and Shen Mengyu were next to test Nicolson.

However, it was Hamilton Accies who were able to reduce the deficit, pulling a goal back just before half-time.

Former Celtic player Josi Giard was the Accies goalscorer, using her pace to race through on goal and tuck the ball home.

Despite conceding late into the first half, the Celts didn’t let that affect them and they started the second half just as they had the first, scoring early on.

On her return to the side after being part the Chinese national team at the World Cup, Shen Mengyu got on the scoresheet, smashing a long-range strike past the keeper.

With the Celts taking a strong lead, Fran Alonso was able to make some changes to the side, and one of those substitutes was able to get on the scoresheet as Tiree Burchill grabbed her first goal of the campaign.

Picking the ball up just outside the area, the youngster riffled a low strike past the goalkeeper to give the Ghirls a 6-1 advantage.

The scoring was rounded off in stoppage time as the Celts continued to add to their goal difference to start the season, with Ceyla Barclais' header ending up in the back of the net with the aid of a deflection.

Next up, is another league match on Wednesday night as the Hoops take on Spartans away from home.

CELTIC: Logan, Ross (Cavanagh 46), Craig, Gallacher (Sharkey 58), Shen, Agnew (Smith 46), Clark, Partido, Loferski (Barclais 58), Menglu (Burchill 46), McAneny.
Subs: Hayes, Cusack, Goldie, Ferns

Magnificent seven for Celtic FC Women's team with impressive home win