Celtic LFC v Aberdeen Ladies FC - Premier League - Sunday 11th. May 2008

Celtic Ladies Hit Aberdeen For Eight

CELTIC LADIES sealed a second consecutive victory over Aberdeen in five days, with an emphatic 8-1 victory at Lennoxtown on Sunday.

The Hoops put in a spectacular performance that keeps them on course for a third place finish in the Premier League and propels them into their crucial double header against Hibernian this week.

Yet another spread of goals across the team secured all three points as the Celtic players staked their claim for a starting place in this Saturday’s Unite Scottish Cup final.

The game kicked off late with both Aberdeen and the match referee getting lost on the way to Lennoxtown, but it was the visitors who started the game stronger.

Camped in the Celtic half for the first 10 minutes, it seemed as though the Dons were determined to avenge their Scottish Cup semi-final exit at the hands of the Hoops.

However, the game soon settled down and Celtic eventually worked their way in. And, with less than 15 minutes on the clock, captain Becky Stokes opened the scoring, having stolen in on Gemmell’s ball and she slotted it past the keeper with ease.

Suzanne Malone got the only other goal of the first- half with a trademark one-on-one finish against the keeper. Jenny Beattie played her through and the strong centre forward rolled it under the on-rushing keeper.

Hayley Cunningham struck the cross bar on 35 minutes with a free-kick, but found the net early in the second half to put her side three up.

Aberdeen hit back with a scrappy goal that was poorly defended on Celtic’s part but it wasn’t enough to stop the onslaught.

Jenny Beattie scored soon after and Christie Murray grabbed the next. She turned sharply and fired her shot low into the bottom corner from 18 yards.

Beattie struck again to complete her brace but Scotland team-mate Murray wasn’t to be outdone, as she tapped in from Findlay’s pinpoint cross to also notch her second of the day. Nicole Findlay finished the rout with a flashing header on 87 minutes from a Clare Gemmell cross.

“Credit must first go to Aberdeen who started well after a long journey and played throughout with their usual energy,” said Head coach Brian Delaney after the game.

“But once we joined the game we kept possession really well and created a number of chances. We showed a great variation in our play today which resulted in some terrific goals.

“Now we look forward to the two games against Hibernian this week, with our thoughts most certainly resting on the Scottish Cup final.

“But make no mistake, we want to win every game and will go for the three points on Wednesday.”

Kayleigh Cameron

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Celtic Crush Dons

Celtic FC Ladies 8 – Aberdeen FC Ladies 1
 
After being knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Celtic midweek, Aberdeen travelled to Lennoxtown for a league game hoping for retaliation but instead were on the wrong end of a drubbing.

Aberdeen pressed early, winning a couple of corners the first cleared easily by the Celtic defence, the second headed on target by Murray but straight at the keeper. The home side opened the scoring on 6 minutes, STOKES surging from midfield to hit home. The Hoops continued to threaten a Cunningham shot in bringing off a fingertip save from the Dons keeper.

Aberdeen had the odd break forward but in the final third, Dalziel and Quigg were proving more than a match for the Reds attack while Celtic’s midfield pair Beattie and Love were controlling the centre of the park despite some hard work from Aberdeen’s Fitzpatrick and Small. Aberdeen striker Wright chased onto a ball forward but she was sandwiched between the keeper and a defender bringing furious claims for a penalty from the Aberdeen technical area.

S.Scott forayed forward seeming to have a great chance but a disputed offside decision again had the dugout in uproar. Celtic continued to look dangerous, Love forcing a save from Chatham low at the post, an unchallenged Beattie heading just over the woodwork and a Malone pot shot which went wide. Aberdeen seemed unable to contain the tall midfielder Beattie as she took another hit from well out which Chatham held. Celtic’s second goal came just on half time Beattie winning a tackle and threading a pass to MALONE who finished clinically from the edge of the box.

Half Time:- Celtic 2 – Aberdeen 0

Celtic’s third came from CUNNINGHAM latching onto a forward pass, Chatham closed her down but she slipped it past her into the net. Taylor replaced Gauld, the Reds switching to three at the back and Taylor picking up Beattie. Aberdeen went on the attack and pulling one back, Taylor finding Martin wide left who crossed in high to WRIGHT and after a battle in the 6 yard box she hit home from close range.

On 25 minutes the constant BEATTIE threat matured as she burst forward losing Taylor and passing two other Dons, her shot bouncing under the diving Chatham. The fifth for the hoops came 30 minutes in MURRAY receiving just outside the box, losing her marker and hitting the net. At the other end a half chance for the Reds, Fitzpatrick rattling the bar and rebound cleared before Taylor could pounce on it. The Celts fought back with Murray, Young and P.Scott under constant pressure while the midfield tracked back to match persistant runs from the midfield.

At 5-1 to the Celts the score might have reflected the difference between the sides but Celtic ended the game  with a devastating 4 minute flurry of goals BEATTIE and STOKES both adding to their tally and finally an unmarked GEMMILL heading in a cross from Findlay on the left to complete Aberdeen’s biggest loss in the Premier League since promotion 6 seasons ago.

Aberdeen Team :- Allanah Chatham, Susan Murray, Lorna Young, Rachel Gauld (Jenni Taylor), Paula Scott, Melissa Stirling (Neda Djahansouzi), Chloe Fitzpatrick, Rachel Small, Claire Martin, Nikki Wright, Sharon Scott.

Subs :- Rachel Hamill

DaveU