CELTIC Ladies continued their winning run in the Premier League with another convincing victory away to Boroughmuir Thistle on Sunday in their penultimate game before the winter break.

With the game also beating the winter weather, it allowed the Hoops the chance to stretch their lead at the top of the table to nine points.

And they did so in style, dominating proceedings from start to finish despite the wintry conditions. Three goals from midfield were enough to claim the victory, but the margin could have been even higher.

The Hoops lined up with the same starting XI that had put eight past the Premier League newcomers only a fortnight earlier.

And although the scoreline was more respectable on this occasion, Celtic enjoyed as much possession and created as many chances as they did in the earlier encounter.

The Celts almost took the lead in eight minutes when Julie Ferguson engineered a superb move down the right. She worked a clever one-two with Christie Murray and sent an inch-perfect cross to the feet of Hamill, but the forward could only divert her volley over the crossbar.

But the Hoops got the reward for their impressive play 10 minutes later, when they opened the scoring through Jo Love for the third week in succession.

Good distribution by keeper, Claire Johnstone found Becky Stokes clear on the right, and her early ball sent Love through on goal, and the midfielder coolly slotted the ball under the Thistle keeper, Linsey Wright.

In a rare attack by the home side on 20 minutes, the ball broke kindly for Alana Marshall just inside the penalty area, but Johnstone saved her effort comfortably. And the Hoops dealt the killer blow to their hosts in the final minute of the half.

Wright saved well with her feet to deny Hamill and with the keeper out of her goal, Lauren MacMillan tried her luck from distance from the rebound.

The Thistle keeper got back to her feet quickly, but she fumbled MacMillan’s effort and the ball trickled into the net.

Celtic continued to dominate in the second half and were unlucky not to put the game out of reach earlier.

Stokes picked out Murray with a clever cut-back, but the forward deflected the ball across the face of goal. And Crichton then found Hamill with an excellent pass, but the Scotland internationalist’s effort went just wide with the keeper beaten.

Crichton was the provider again later with a neat ball over the top, as the Hoops rounded things off in the 83rd minute. She picked out Murray, who lobbed the keeper with a brave header and Stokes was on hand to force the ball over the line under pressure.

Coach, Brian Delaney was pleased with the win and his side’s performance. He said: “We’re delighted with the number of chances we created on a day when the conditions didn’t lend itself to our normal style of play. I thought it was a professional performance by the players and it’s great to get another clean sheet.” 

Mandy Mair