City crash to Celtic
Glasgow City lost 2-1 to Celtic tonight at Glasgow Green in what was a very disappointing game for the hosts.
City went into this match full of confidence having comfortably seen off Celtic last month in the League Cup, but were guilty of perhaps too much complacency in this match, with Celtic starting the much stronger side.
City’s line up was changed slightly due to the absence of first team regulars Emma Fernon and Suzanne Lappin, with Jill Paterson moved to left back and Clare Gemmell into midfield. However, the new line up barely had time to settle with Celtic hitting their first goal within the five minutes. A deep corner to the back post found Jo Love in space and the Scotland midfielder got her knee to the ball and managed to steer it over the line.
City responded soon after when a cut back to just outside the box was hit brilliantly by Jill Paterson and her shot sailed past Claire Johnstone in the Celtic net. However, Paterson’s effort proved to be a rare moment for the home side as their normal play and composure left them entirely for the first 45 minutes.
Celtic then took the lead midway through the first half courtesy of a penalty from former City player Leanne Crichton, after City’s Leeanne Campbell was judged to have fouled Celtic’s Christie Murray in the box.
Half time 1-2.
The second half saw an entirely different Glasgow City as the home team gradually began to look more like themselves. City’s pressure in the second half for the equaliser gained momentum when Celtic full-back Julie Ferguson was sent off for a second bookable offence with 30 minutes still left on the clock.
However, heroics from the Celtic rearguard kept City at bay as the visitors held on to their lead to pick up all three points.
City Boss Peter Caulfield was very disappointed. He said, “That was the worst first 45 minutes I have ever seen from a Glasgow City side in the nine years I have been Manager. Thankfully we picked it up considerably in the second half, but by then Celtic had something to fight for and hold on to. However, tonight has been and gone and we need to now focus on Boroughmuir on Sunday. We have only played seven games so far, so we still have a lot of football left and we will just take it one game at a time.
27.11.08
