City Reserves lose to Celtic - a fan's account
Glasgow City Reserves lined up against an experienced Celtic side today at Lennoxtown, the first time the two sides have met since City’s triumph in the SWF League Cup Final last year.
City started the game in a very confident manner, with some good movement off the ball and within four minutes their excellent start put them in front. Midfielder Marni Russell played a good ball into the path of Ciara Barnes on the right who glided past the Celtic defender before slotting the ball into the back of the net, to open the scoring for the visitors.
Although City maintained their good start they were unable to prevent Celtic levelling after 13 minutes. A long ball was well played over the head of City full back Iona Colville, and she was unable to prevent a pass being played across the six-yard box which was converted in off the post by the Celtic forward.
City striker Mel Stirling managed to win a corner on 20 minutes, but after that Celtic began to gain control of the game. In particular, the Celtic number 11, playing on the right, was causing City a number of problems with her pace. It was on the left however, that Celtic managed to pull ahead on 32 minutes. A good ball was played through the City defence, just on the inside left of the penalty area, which was converted to put the homes side 2-1 ahead.
Celtic became increasingly dominant in the last ten minutes until the break, but City managed to defend well, without being able to break out.
At half time, City made a change with Vikki Graham coming on for Stephanie Fraser.
City came out strongly for the start of the second half, but despite creating a great many chances, they were unable to convert these into goals. Frustratingly for the visitors, it was Celtic who made the breakthrough again, with the City keeper lobbed in the area to put Celtic, perhaps unfairly 3-1 up.
The game was then put out of reach for City when full-back Stacey-Ann Buist turned the ball into her own net while trying to clear.
City had a good chance to get a goal back, but the usual prolific set-piece specialist Mel Stirling, sent her effort high over the bar.
City continued to put perssure ont he Celtic rearguard, but as the game wore on it was increasingly clear that Celtic were content to absorb it. Just after 62 minutees, Stirling sent another free-kick just over the crossbar, but apart from that, no clear chances were created.
Agonisingly for City, defender Rebekah Dempster was injured stretching for a ball and had to be carried off.
City Coach Kirsty McNicol was pleased with the effort of her players.
She said, “To be honest, I don’t feel the final score reflected the game or the performance of the team. We lost some very disappointing goals and didn’t take the chances which came our way. However, I could not have asked for more from the players, they did everything we asked of them and despite the result, they have a lot to be proud of today.”
18.10.09
Match report supplied by City supporter Ray Harley
