Last weekend Celtic FC Women did exactly what Ange Postecoglou and the men’s side did yesterday and knocked out Scotland’s dominant Cup side to secure a Cup final place.
GOAL! 2-1 Charlie Wellings (#21) of Celtic Women FC celebrates with team mates after her late winner during the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup match between Celtic Women and Hibernian at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling, Scotland on 14/11/2021.
And much like Postecoglou’s side will have to do, Fran Alonso and his charges will have to bank the confidence gained, return to the meat and drink of League football, and set about hunting down a league leading theRangers side.
Celtic return to SWPL1 action today with a 2pm Kick off at the Penny Cars Stadium and up against an Aberdeen side they have already defeated 4-2 on the opening weekend of the season. On this occasion there is simply no margin for error, with Glasgow City three points ahead and theRangers five, three points are essential this afternoon and a few goals to boot to eat into the disparity in goal difference certainly wouldn’t go amiss either.
Possibly the most promising piece of news from Fran Alonso’s pre-match interview with Celtic TV was the availability of Sarah Harkes. A long-term injury absentee, Harkes is a big miss when it comes to linking midfield to attack. Capable of the spectacular as we saw with THAT goal of the month against Hibs (see below), Harkes also brings that ability to find the crucial pass, fashion the space and is the creator in this Celtic squad very much capable of getting bums off seats!
Whether or not Harkes will be fit enough to start the game today remains to be seen, however Alonso’s announcement of a return to fitness bodes well for a cameo appearance at least today and Sarah Harkes doesn’t need long to tun a game in the favour of Celtic.
Celtic Women FC Ahead of the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup match between Celtic Women and Hibernian at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling, Scotland on 14/11/2021.
While Celtic’s team spirit was evident in coming from behind to win last weekend it is unlikely today’s opponents will be feeling quite so confident. Five straight defeats and only two wins from nine games sees Aberdeen eighth in the table and only two points off the bottom, as such the opportunity is there for Celtic to carry on the cup form into league action today.
One player the Dons are bound to fear is the red-hot form of Charlie Wellings and with 15 goals in 15 appearances she’ll be the players Aberdeen will fear the most today, but a special mention must go to the vastly more consistent Jacynta in recent weeks.
GOAL! 2-1 Charlie Wellings (#21) of Celtic Women FC scores from close range to give her side a late lead during the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup match between Celtic Women and Hibernian at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling, Scotland on 14/11/2021.
The Argentinian scored the leveller in the Hibs semi-final last week and will be looking to build on the consistency she has shown with more of the same this afternoon. Jacynta has four goals but looks like a player who is only just starting to motor and Aberdeen will have their work cut out keeping her quiet this afternoon.
Rachael Boyle (#23) of Hibernian FC slides in while Jacynta Galabadaarachchi (#8) of Celtic Women FC has the ball during the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup match between Celtic Women and Hibernian at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling, Scotland on 14/11/2021.
Much like Harkes, Jacynta is another who you simply enjoy watching going about her work. The drop of the shoulder, the close control and now the work rate to match the ability is there for all to see, indeed the ceiling for Jacynta has been far from reached and you get the feeling this player will have a real impact on Celtic’s season in the months ahead.
Sadly, for anyone hoping to tune in to watch Celtic this afternoon, ‘technical difficulties’ that only came to light after Park’s Motor Group, the Scottish car dealership owned by theRangers chairman Douglas Park, was unveiled as the title sponsor of the Scottish Women’s Premier League for the rest of the 21/22 season, means the live game today will be theRangers clash with Partick Thistle with a media blackout of the other title contenders Celtic and Glasgow City. I’ll leave you to join the dots on that one!
However, if you are looking to watch the Hoops in action this afternoon you can still get along to the Penny Cars stadium to cheer on Fran Alonso and his team, as they look to build up the support ahead of the club announcing the Celts will play at Celtic Park next March. A most welcome announcement.
Goalscorers Jacynta Galabadaarachchi (#8) of Celtic Women FC & Charlie Wellings (#21) of Celtic Women FC celebrate following their victory during the Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup match between Celtic Women and Hibernian at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling, Scotland on 14/11/2021.
Tickets are available here https://embed.futureticketing.ie/c/airdrieonians/ and are priced just £8 for adults and £4 for under 16’s for a game that kicks off at 2pm.
This game is likely to be the last match before Celtic face Glasgow City in the SWPL Cup Final at Firhill on Sunday 5 December. As such the Hoops will be looking to build on the confidence gained with that late win over Hibs last weekend with a victory over Aberdeen this afternoon. If it’s anything like the season opener in the Granite City you can expect a few goals for your entrance fee too.
COYGIG!
Celtic supporters with a display for Bertie Auld. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for Celtic Fan Media including The Celtic Star
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