CELTIC Ladies continued their impressive Premier League winning run at the weekend with a comfortable 4-0 victory at home to fifth-placed Aberdeen.

Jenny Beattie scored one and assisted with the other three Celtic goals to help secure the points and reclaim the Hoops’ two-point advantage at the Premier League summit.

This latest victory means the Celts remain undefeated in the Women’s Premier League this season, their only slip-up a draw against second placed Spartans last September.

Since then they have won all eight league matches, and if they win their next eight they will be crowned league champions. The Hoops returned to league action desperate to put behind them the disappointment of last week’s Scottish Cup defeat to Glasgow City.

They lined up without suspended duo, Christie Murray and Julie Ferguson, and had influential forward Pauline Hamill out, so Jacqui Seagrave, Julia Scott and Suzanne Malone deputised.

And it was Malone who settled Celtic with the opener on the 15-minute mark. Beattie slipped her in with a great through-ball, and the forward coolly slotted past Jenni Taylor in the Dons’ goal.

Lauren MacMillan delivered an excellent cross from the left in the Hoops’ next attack, but Love could only send her sliding effort wide as she stretched to connect.

Taylor then denied Malone a second goal, blocking the forward’s shot with her feet after a well-worked Celtic corner. And she kept the Dons in the game moments later with a fingertip save, as Scott tried to curl an effort round the keeper when clean through.

The Hoops had to wait until the second half to finally turn their possession and play into more goals, and put the game out of Aberdeen’s reach.

Ten minutes after the re-start captain Becky Stokes doubled the home side’s lead. Leanne Crichton linked up well with Beattie on the left and the centre-half picked out Stokes in the box, who tapped in from close range.

Beattie then claimed the Hoops’ next goal with a fine header from an inch-perfect, Lauren MacMillan corner, which Taylor could do nothing about. And the influential youngster turned provider again for the fourth and final goal of the afternoon.

She linked up with Stokes before crossing to the feet of Love, and the midfielder converted with a neat, cushioned volley, low at the back post. It was Love’s ninth league goal of the campaign, an outstanding contribution from midfield.

Celtic face Forfar away in a fortnight’s time, when the players return from international duty, where they will be striving to keep their magnificent league run going.

Hoops’ coach Brian Delaney was delighted with his side’s display and the attitude of his players. He said: “It was a good reaction from the players after the disappointment of last week, which we were looking for.

“It was another solid performance and to keep a clean sheet, while playing with our usual attacking style, was extremely pleasing.”

 

Mandy Mair