Littlejohn steals show as City wrap up title
Glasgow City won their fifth league title, and fourth in succession, after firing eleven goals past Inverness without reply today, in a championship winning performance at Glasgow Green. Although last weeks win over Celtic at Lennoxtown had virtually secured the title, due to City’s vastly superior goal difference, another three points today was the remit from Manager, Peter Caulfield and Head Coach, Eddie Wolecki, and the players didn’t disappoint with a fantastic display of quick passing, attack minded football.
News of Celtic’s 5-2 defeat, away at Spartans, only emphasised the margin of City’s victory in the title race, with six points eventually separating the clubs.
Today’s game was also significant for another reason as it was the last time Captain Laura Montgomery would pull on the Glasgow city jersey after announcing she would retire after the match; following twelve years as the leader of the team.
The game itself was a great advert for the watching crowd who were not disappointed by the quality of City’s football and saw Ruesha Littlejohn stamp her mark all over the game with a seven goal haul, while still having time to miss from the penalty spot.
While City were in dominant mood from the start, it took until the fourteenth minute before they eventually managed to break the deadlock. Following a period of concerted pressure, Inverness were unable to clear their lines and in a packed penalty box, Sue Lappin managed to pick out a pass to Litltlejohn who scored from close range.
It was another fifteen minutes before the second arrived and again it was Littlejohn who finished from sixteen yards after Lappin had split the away defence with a brilliant reverse pass.
Littlejohn then had the chance to complete her hat trick from the penalty spot after an Inverness defender had handled in the box, however, with the keeper sent the wrong way she managed to shoot past the post.
Her third goal arrived just two minutes before half time, however, when following a great over-lapping run from Leeanne Campbell found her in the box with a pass, she was quick to turn and fire past Kim Jappy in the Inverness goal.
Half-Time 3-0
The half time team talk of the Inverness manager had barely time to register with the Inverness players and City had increased their lead. A brilliant turn of pace down the right hand side from Lisa Evans saw her drive into the box and fire across the keeper into the far corner.
Littlejohn then scored with an individual effort after receiving the ball 25 yards out and driving at the defence before finding the space to shoot across the keeper.
Twenty minutes to go and Lauren McMurchie made it 6-0 after substitute Leanne Ross fired a cross into the box which was brought under control instantly by Jane Ross who’s lay-off to McMurchie made scoring an easy task.
Leanne Ross was next on the score sheet, firing home from the middle of the box after an Emma Fernon cross picked her out in the box.
Littlejohn then scored two in a minute. The first after Lisa Evans had set her up at the edge of the box and her shot found the bottom corner. Next was arguably the goal of the game, as following a great passing move involving numerous players, the ball was worked down the right hand side and when the cross came into the box, Leanne Ross stepped over the ball to allow it to run to Jane Ross, who read Littlejohn’s late run perfectly and threaded a pass which the striker took in her stride and left her the easiest of tasks to score.
Leanne Ross then scored her second of the day, to take her season’s total to an outstanding fifty four, when she volleyed home a Fernon cross after Rachel Corsie’s pass had again opened up the Inverness defence.
The scoring was complete on the final whistle as Littlejohn found the net from 20 yards, when her shot beat Jappy and flew in off the far post.
Manager, Peter Caulfield, was satisfied by the team’s performance and indeed the whole season, saying, “It is always an outstanding achievement for any team to win a league title but to have seen this current team now win the title for the fourth successive season is magnificent. I believe this is the best group of players ever assembled in Scotland and their hunger and desire to be winners is incomparable.
“It is not only the fact that they win games consistently, but it is the manner in which they do so and the quality of football they play which is a credit to them. When you have players as committed and focused as the players in this team then it makes all the hard work worthwhile.
“Special praise must go to Laura Montgomery today, however, as even though she was not 100% fit today, she still put in a fighting performance in her last game for the club. She has been an example to every player at this club, over the last twelve years, of how to look after yourself and prepare for games. Her focus and winning mentality have been great for everyone to see and the dressing room will be a strange place without her next season.
“The club may only be twelve years old but Laura has established herself in that time as a true Glasgow City legend and what better way to end a career than to see her hoist the Championship trophy again.”
Pictures by Glasgow City Club Photographer Lorraine Hill. For a full picture report form the match please visit the photos section of our website. All pictures are available for purchase, please contact photos@glasgowcityladiesfc.co.uk
07.11.10
