Queen’s Park 0 Celtic 6

Current champions Celtic scored three goals either side of the break as Queen’s Park lost a hard-fought midweek battle at Ochilview Park.

Head Coach Iain Robinson made two changes following the side’s 3-0 away defeat to Aberdeen with Leah Daly and Abbie Cusack coming in for Dionne Brown and Darcy Molley.

20-year old defender Abby Cusack made her first appearance along with her first start for The Spiders after her recent arrival from Dundee United.

Morgan Hay and Millie Paton had the first real chance for Queen’s Park in the first five minutes after a dangerous run down the right hand side, but the attack fizzled out and the ball was deflected out of play.

Celtic struck first in the fourteenth minute via Saoirse Noonan who was able to pick up on a rebound and fire home from close range.

The Irish forward was denied a quickfire double after a fantastic double save from Lauren McGregor was able to deny the visitors.

A few moments later, Noonan came close to scoring again after she rose up to connect her head to the ball but her effort was dragged wide.

Jenny Smith was next to come close for the visitors after finding herself at the far post but the Celtic winger was unable to connect cleanly and the ball slid across the goalmouth.

Murphy Agnew looked set to threaten again, with twenty-five minutes on the clock, after a promising run from outside the box but Hannah Cunningham was on hand to make the tackle and to send it behind for a corner.

Celtic continued their hunt to double their lead after a scramble for the ball in the penalty box but Lily Boyce was the first one to it and able to clear the danger.

Celtic did eventually find their second goal in the 37th minute as Noonan headed home from the near post.

With forty minutes played, Colette Cavanagh made an attempt to get her name onto the scoresheet with a well-taken strike from the edge of the box but was denied by a fantastic one-handed Lauren McGregor save who was able to tip it over the bar.

Cavanagh would find Celtic’s third before the end of the half with a headed goal from a well-taken corner.

Half-Time: Queen’s Park 0-3 Celtic

Another corner brought with it another goal for the visitors – this time Shannon McGregor with a well-timed volley fired into the back of the net with six minutes played in the half.

Celtic looked for another quickfire goal but were denied after another fantastic save from Lauren McGregor at close range to deny them.

Celtic’s fifth goal came from Mathilde Carstens on the 63rd minute. Amy Gallacher delivered a cross into the box that bounced around with a few players trying to bring it under control. Carstens managed to get her foot on the ball, and then turn and finish into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

Morgan Hay had another attempt to put Queen’s Park on the scoreboard in the final fifteen minutes but her well-taken cross into the danger zone could only find Kelsey Daugherty’s gloves.

Celtic’s sixth goal came with eleven minutes left in the game courtesy of Maria McAneny who fired low into the bottom corner to wrap up the match.

The Spiders now face a gameless Sunday before facing Hibernian in SWPL 1 action a week later at Ochilview Park. The game will be played on the 9th of January with a 3PM kick-off.

Queen’s Park: Lauren McGregor, Millie Paton (Darcy Molley, 61’), Abbie Cusack, Ciara Bonner, Hannah Cunningham, Lily Boyce, Rachel Wright (Trialist, 61’), Leah Daly (Dionne Brown, 46’) Abby Callaghan (Ellie MacDonald, 75’), Ami Robertson (Rosie McQuillan, 61’).
Subs not used: Megan Quigley, Jasmine McPhie.

Celtic: Kelsey Daugherty, Célya Barclais, Kelly Clark, Emma Lawton, Murphy Agnew (Maria McAneny, 46’), Colette Cavanagh, Jenny Smith, Shannon McGregor (Amy Gallacher, 59’), Mathilde Carstens (Kit Loferski, 69’), Morgan Cross (Emma Westin, 58’), Saoirse Noonan (Abi Harison, 46’).
Subs not used: Chloe Logan, Amy Richardson, Bruna Costa, Luana Muñoz.