Celtic stayed within touching distance of Glasgow City as they moved top of the SWPL 1 summit – at least until Sunday afternoon – thanks to a 3-0 victory over Rangers at the Excelsior Stadium that leaves their rivals with a mountain to climb in their bid to defend the title.
Caitlin Hayes’ first-half header gave the home side an early lead, Amy Gallacher made it 2-0 shortly after the restart and it was three a few minutes later when Hayes grabbed her second of the evening as she nodded in Jacynta’s corner.
Fran Alonso’s side are now level on 50 points with City, who face Aberdeen away this weekend, but are currently top of the pile thanks to their superior goal difference.
“I couldn’t be any prouder of the girls,” Alonso said. “We knew it was a huge challenge, they had been unbeaten for over a year and a half but we were up for it.
“I saw the players training with hunger and they showed it in the game. It’s incredible. Winning 3-0 at home, keeping a clean sheet – it’s just incredible.
“I am very, very proud of the girls and I told them that. I am out of words. This is an outstanding performance and every single player gets 11/10.”
The two Glasgow clubs came into this one in fine form and with a solitary point separating them in the standings. Celtic, who held the narrow advantage, had shipped just three goals in 18 league outings this term; Rangers had let in just two, and hadn’t registered a single SWPL 1 loss all season.
The reverse fixture earlier in the campaign ended in a goalless stalemate but there was no danger of history repeating itself here as both sides started the game in a positive manner, determined to gain the upper hand in the derby early on.
The visitors applied the early pressure on in Airdrie as they probed around the Celtic box, testing their hosts with a few deliveries into the box and shots from range but Fran Alonso’s side held firm. On 10 minutes, Shen Menglu came within inches of opening the scoring when the winger latched onto the end of a well-worked attack for the home side, only for her shot from the edge of the area to crack the outside of the post.
Five minutes later and Celtic took the lead from the game’s first corner. Jacynta looped the ball in from the left and Hayes timed her jump well to rise highest and steer the ball home. Barely a minute had elapsed and parity was almost restored when Rachel McLauchlan drilled a cross-cum-shot at the Celtic goal that forced goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar into a smart stop to tip the ball over the bar.
Malky Thomson’s side wouldn’t let that deter them, though, as they started controlling the ball and asking some awkward questions of their rivals. Jenny Danielsson went close when she fizzed a 20-yard effort narrowly over the bar and Brogan Hay stung Tajonar’s palms with a powerful shot moments before half-time but despite their best efforts, Rangers went into the break trailing.
They would rue those spurned chances within a minute of the restart. Celtic swept forward menacingly and when the ball eventually fell to Gallacher inside the Rangers box, the winger made no mistake as she coolly slotted home to double her side’s advantage.
The match was then ended as a contest just a few minutes later in a near carbon copy of the opener. Again, Jacynta floated in an inviting delivery from a corner and there was Hayes to head the ball home and wrap up a momentous three points.
All eyes will be on the Excelsior again next weekend when Alonso’s side host league leaders Glasgow City in what is shaping up to be another pivotal fixture in the three-way race for the title.
