CELTIC Ladies bounced back from the disappointment of their League Cup defeat last week with an emphatic 10-0 demolition of Raith Rovers at Lennoxtown on Sunday.

Goals from six different Celts, including a hat-trick apiece for Jo Love and Jenny Beattie, secured the three points for the home side and moved them to within a single "goals scored" of Spartans at the top of the Premier League.

The Hoops set out to exorcise their cup demons and Love and Beattie gave them the perfect start with an incredible three goals in the opening 10 minutes, two of which were set up by Lauren MacMillan, who enjoyed her finest match in the Hoops since joining the club in the summer.

MacMillan laid the ball off to Love for the opener and she fired in an unstoppable shot from 20 yards out. MacMillan then sent over an inch-perfect corner and Beattie headed the ball over the line to double the lead.

Next Christie Murray slid a fine pass to the feet of Love and the midfielder claimed her second of the match as she sold the Rovers’ keeper a neat dummy and slotted the ball home.

Play was dramatically stopped for 30 minutes during the first half when Rovers’ forward, Katie Bennett, required treatment to a serious neck injury, causing concern in both camps.

When play resumed, the Hoops simply carried on where they left off. They were in scintillating form and refused to let up on their opponents who struggled to maintain any sort of possession. And their misery was compounded as the Hoops fired in another three before the break.

Leanne Crichton was next on the score-sheet for the determined Celts with a real opportunist moment. She anticipated the Rovers’ back-pass and beat Watson to the ball to knock it beyond the keeper and roll it into the empty goal.

Karen McInally converted next with a flick of the outside of her boot from close range after some good work on the left by Karen Penglase.

And Beattie completed the first-half scoring when she latched onto MacMillan’s centre and stroked the ball home after her excellent first-touch took her away from her marker.

Raith were totally outclassed and were unable to halt the fired-up Hoops, as they suffered more of the same in the second period.

Midfield duo, Love and Beattie completed their hat-tricks from the penalty spot and a 22-yard shot respectively. And substitute Suzanne Malone fired in a shot on the turn before Penglase smashed in the tenth from outside the box.

Head coach Robert Docherty said after the match: “We were disappointed with our performance last week which was very flat. But this week I thought we applied ourselves really well and our attitude was great.

“I thought we scored some goals of real quality today and they came from all over the pitch, so we’re delighted.”

Mandy Mair