CELTIC Ladies showed great character to secure a vital point against Spartans, as they finished the match with 10 players and conceded a penalty in each half of an enthralling match at Lennoxtown last Sunday.

The Hoops had goalkeeper Claire Johnstone to thank for saving the first penalty, and the crossbar came to the rescue at the second, as Spartans found it difficult to break down a dogged Celtic side.

However, Hayley Lauder clinched a point for the visitors with her second half effort after Jo Love netted the opener.

The match was just five minutes old when Spartans’ first penalty was awarded. Jenny Beattie was ajudged to have fouled the impressive McWhinnie in the box, but Johnstone saved well, low to her left, to thwart Pagliarulo from the spot.

Celtic responded well after a shaky start and took the lead before the interval. Hutcheson came rushing out of her goal and spilled at the feet of Pauline Hamill, and the experienced forward showed great awareness to pick out Love with a deep cross, who chested the ball into the open goal.

Spartans threatened the Hoops’ goal a few times, but were denied by the in-form Johnstone. There was nothing the keeper could do about the equaliser, however.

The ball struck the arm of Ferguson in the box, but Lauder didn’t wait for the referee’s decision, and she expertly fired the ball high into the Celtic net.

Johnstone then produced one of the saves of the season with a finger-tip save from McKean’s curler, which was heading into the top corner.

But the Hoops still had it all to do as they were then reduced to 10 players and another penalty was awarded to Spartans, after Lauren MacMillan appeared to handle the ball on the line while manning the back post at the resulting corner.

Celtic dug in though and, at times during the last 25 minutes, it was difficult to tell which side were a player short.

Hutcheson had to be at her best to deny Christie Murray as she tried to round the keeper after some good work on the right by Crichton and Ferguson.

Hamill also went close to nicking all three points for the Hoops, but her volley went agonisingly wide of the post in the latter stages of the match.

The Hoops are now a point ahead of Glasgow City at the top of the Premier League, although City have a game in hand.

Hoops’ coach Brian Delaney was proud, despite his side failing to maintain their 100 per cent record. He said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the character shown by the team, particularly after we went down to 10 players. We dug in deep and everybody stood up and was counted.

“Obviously we’re disappointed as it’s the first points we’ve dropped in the season, but it was definitely a point gained here. And all things considered, a draw was probably a fair result, against our toughest opponents to date.”

CELTIC: Johnstone; Beattie; Robertson; Ferguson; Penglase; MacMillan; Gemmell (Quigg 60); Love; Crichton; Murray; Hamill
Subs not used: Dalziel; McInally; Seagrave

SPARTANS: Hutcheson; Faughnan; Rooney; Moultray; Kerr; Pagliarulo; Lauder; McLaughlin; McKean; Barry; McWhinnie
Subs not used: Archibald; Young; Melrose; Crosbie; Calder

          Mandy Mair