Amy produces some Gallacher magic to win Celtic’s first ever title

Amy produces some Gallacher magic to win Celtic’s first ever title…

Celtic beat Hibs at Celtic Park today thanks to a wonderful, magical  Amy Gallacher goal in the 90th minutes that proved to be the title clincher and the heart breaker for theRangers women who reckoned that they were just a minute away from a probable treble.

As the game got underway in Paradise, Celtic FC Women looked on the front foot, searching for the goal that could crown us champions. But it took until the 7th minute to find our shooting boots as Tash Flint tried her luck from distance but it was claimed by the Hibs keeper, a phrase that was used a lot this afternoon!

Hibs started to work their way into the game as they had some good moves around the 20th minute. They almost opened the scoring with their first effort on goal as well, as Kelsey Daugherty had to come to our rescue, tipping a shot around the post to keep it level. The visitors also struck the crossbar around this time, setting in Celtic nerves as our rivals had opened the scoring against Partick Thistle to move themselves temporarily to the top of the table.

With five minutes left to play in the first half, Murphy Agnew came very close to scoring the first goal of the game as she rattled the crossbar. Her strike from the edge of the area had just too much on it.

Going into the second half, claims for a penalty were overlooked by the referee. Agnew looked to be taken down in the box, but play was allowed to continue, a decision that was sure to be controversial had we lost the game.

Approaching the hour mark, Kelly Clark had moved up the pitch and found herself inside of the opposition box. The captain hit it on the volley, but she couldn’t find the target on a warm afternoon in the May Glasgow sunshine.

Things started to get nervy as the clock was running down. We desperately tried to carve them apart, with Celya Barclais and Lucy Ashworth-Clifford both putting in shifts to try and create chances.

The goalkeeper kept claiming them though as we approached full-time, and it looked as though it may be another last day heartbreak on the cards for the Ghirls. Then it happened. Amy Gallacher  had around seven Hibs players around her and her back to goal when substitute Shen Menglu cut inside from the right wing to find Celtic’s top goalscorer.

A one two off a his player a shimmy and a dribble past another three and a precise finish just inside the keeper right hand post send the 7624 supporters inside Celtic crazy and broke the Rangers hearts up the road at Cumbernauld, where their side had secured the points with a 4-0 win over Partick Thistle.

Given what was at stake Amy Gallacher showed great composure to control it and smash it into the back of the net, just like Patsy really. And that was it. It was all over after a few minutes of injury time and Amy G’s goal was decisive in the end. Celtic FC Women are the champions of Scotland for the first time in history!

And a special mention for Fran Alonso for assembling this title winning team on a shoe-string budget and delivering the huge goal difference advantage that was always likely to be worth another point, and it proved to be the decisive factor in delivering the title for Celtic FC Women and a double title triumph for Celtic Football Club in the same weekend.

Double delight, delicious, Scottish Premiership Champions and SWPL1 Champions – we’re Glasgow Celtic.

Enjoy your night Celts!

Jessica Elliott

Jessica was at Celtic Park covering the match for The Celtic Star.  Here’s how the table finished….