Aberdeen FC Ladies v Celtic Ladies FC - Premier League 21st. October 2007

Celts Pick Up Points

Aberdeen FC Ladies 1 – Celtic Ladies 2

 

Celtic were first to attack, McInally reaching Stokes with a cross but P. Scott nipped the ball off her feet. Celtic went ahead in the first minute, a ball fell to Gemell, Aberdeen failed to close down and she fired a blistering shot. Stand in keeper Taylor did well to get a touch but it hammered onto the bar and into goal. Celtic continued to press for the first 10 minutes forcing Aberdeen back to defend with an occasional push forward however the Dons did well against a succession of attacks.

 

The Dons countered earning a free kick 30 yards out. Crossed into the back post, there was a half hearted attempt at a header but it trickled out for a goal kick. Aberdeen continued to press but despite some good football seemed unable to penetrate into the box.

 

Both teams were keen to get forward Celtic’s Cunningham bursting through from midfield, evading a couple of tackles before shooting wide and for the Reds Hamill’s forward pass to Wright spoiled by Dalziel’s well timed sliding tackle. Corsie tested the keeper with a looping shot which was touched away for a corner the Hamill again on the run forward but the Hoop’s Stokes was strong on the ball easing her off it to cancel the attack the Corsie curling a free kick over a four man wall just wide of the mark.

 

Danger for the Reds as McCallum sent a ball up the line Murray who chased onto it then executed a nifty turn to lose Guald but P. Scott intercepted her cross. McCallum and Murray continued to threaten this time full back getting to the goal line to cross but P. Scott and Hunter took the sting out of the attack and Taylor collected.

 

The pressure earned Celtic a corner who went two ahead via an Aberdeen own goal. Sent in high, Hunter headed down and into her own net.

 

Half Time Aberdeen 0 – Celtic 2

 

Early chances for Celtic as Cunningham found Murray in the box, she tried a quick turn but fortunately got tangled up with the ball to allow the Reds to close and clear.

Murray again this time crossing to Emmerson on her own in space but keeper Taylor’s chase out forced her to hit the bar.

 

Celtic continued to threaten Gemmell and Love controlling the centre of the park with Murray operating all over the Dons half. Aberdeen replaced Guald with Stirling with immediate effect. A long ball up the pitch was layed off by Stirling to P Scott who found WRIGHT who finished with a well taken lob of the keeper.

 

The change in personnel seemed to encourage Aberdeen pushing now into the Celtic half for extended spells.

 

Celtic were still in the game however, Emmerson picking up on a throw in and crossing to Love who fired but Taylor pulled of a good save conceding the corner. Love again collected, playing in Emmerson who fired in a hard shot but wide of the mark.

 

Scott found Stirling who combined with Wright ending up on a ball forward which she hit hard but the defence blocked. Celtic played wide to Stokes who crossed to Murray but Taylor plucked it out of the air.

 

More Aberdeen chances, Corsie receiving from a shy and crossing to the back post for the advancing Hamill who was a little late to arrive and the cross went for a goal kick.

Wright latched on to a long ball the keeper just beating her to the one on one then Stirling was also beaten to the chase. Tightly marked, Murray did well to make space from a throw crossing in to Fitzpatrick in the box, under close attention she laid off to Djahansouzi who’s shot was blocked then a free kick from 25 yards out was placed straight at the keeper.

 

Celtic broke forward, Stokes picking up on a loose ball then breaking forward, played to Murray who crossed in, Cunningham and Stokes worked together to threaten, Young getting a foot in on the first strike then Stokes shot wide.

 

A final Dons flurry Corsie placing a diagonal ball to Wright but McCallum did well to intercept, Hamill picked up again on the left crossing long but Dalziel got a foot in to clear.

 

 

Aberdeen Team :-

 

Jenni Taylor, Lorna Young, Emma Hunter, Paula Scott, Susan Murray, Rachel Gauld (Melissa Stirling), Rachel Hamill, Chloe Fitzpatrick, Rachel Corsie, Sharon Scott (Neda Djahansouzi), Nikki Wright.

DaveU, 22 October 2007

********************************************************************************************************************************

Celtic Ladies Triumph In Aberdeen

CELTIC Ladies opened their league encounter against Aberdeen on Sunday in great style, scoring a spectacular goal inside the first minute.

Straight from kick-off, the Celts settled into their high-tempo passing game and Christie Murray, who was partnered up front with Hayley Cunningham following their superb second-half display against Queen’s Park, whipped in a low cross which Clare Gemmell met cleanly with her left foot, sending the ball crashing into the top corner.

Aberdeen seemed stunned by Celtic’s early opener and at no stage through the half managed to really threaten Claire Johnstone in goal.

However, Celtic squandered a number of chances to double their lead, with Christie Murray and Jo Love unable to convert with only the keeper to beat and Lauren Emerson thrashing a strike off the underside of the bar, which the referee judged not to have crossed the line despite the protestations of the Celtic forwards.

But a second goal for the Hoops eventually came in the 41st minute through an own goal by Aberdeen’s Emma Hunter.

Defender Danica Dalziel attacked Gemmell’s driven corner and despite not making contact, did enough to put the Aberdeen defender under sufficient pressure to deflect it into her own net. It was certainly no more than the dominating Celtic side deserved.

The second half started at the same pace of the first, with a strong Aberdeen side struggling to keep up with the quick movement and deft passing of the visitors.

However, the Dons grabbed a lifeline on the 57th minute when Nikki Wright nipped in on a short back pass and calmly rounded Johnstone in goal before slotting home.

But the home side couldn’t build any momentum and the game eventually petered out without anymore notable attempts at either end.

Speaking to the View after the game, Celtic Ladies manager, John Holt, said: “I felt we played really well today and created loads of chances. Had we taken more of them it could easily have been 3 or 4-0 at half time.

“Next to the Queen’s Park game, that was probably our best performance. There’s no doubt that they are a good side and it’s never easy leaving so early in the morning and making the long journey up north for a game.

“I was impressed by Jaqui Seagrave who played at left back. She is just a young girl and right-sided but she did extremely well.

“The midfield were excellent and yet again we dominated through the middle. Lauren Emerson was really effective, especially in the first half, continually picking out our forwards with her superb cross diagonal ball, which caused them no end of problems.”

Kayleigh Cameron