celtic ladies hit aberdeen for nine

Mandy Mair
CELTIC Ladies thrashed Aberdeen 9-1 at Lennoxtown on Sunday to book their place in the second round of the League Cup.

Goals from seven different Celts saw them cruise past their opponents and complete back-to-back victories over the Dons, who they beat 3-0 away from home on league duty last week.

The Hoops managed four goals without reply in a one-sided first half and put another five past the visitors in the second period, after the visitors pulled a goal back, catching Celtic cold from the interval.

Claire Gemmell opened the scoring with only five minutes on the clock. Becky Stokes picked Gemmell out well and her long-range effort found the back of the net.

Four minutes later Gemmell turned provider, with Karen McInally bundling the ball over the line after the Dons failed to clear Gemmell’s corner.

Midway through the first half and the Hoops made it 3-0. When Christie Murray’s cross found Stokes on the corner of the six-yard box, the Celtic captain turned her marker inside-out and clipped the ball in off the upright from close range.

And Jenny Beattie rounded off the first-half scoring on the stroke of half-time after another exquisite delivery into the box by the influential Gemmell.

Her corner picked out Beattie in the crowded box, and she powered an unstoppable header high into the net.

Aberdeen were out of the game and the League Cup, but they had pride to play for and their half-time team-talk certainly had an impact as they managed to claw a goal back within five minutes of the restart.

Djahansouzi fired the ball past Claire Johnstone from close range after the Hoops failed to clear Scott’s corner.

But it was merely a consolation, as Celtic responded well and increased their lead only three minutes later, with a fine piece of counter-attacking play.

Lauren MacMillan, making her Celtic debut, linked well with Stokes on the left flank and sent an inch-perfect cross to the feet of the on-rushing Murray, who slid the ball home over the Dons’ keeper.
Gemmell doubled her tally for the day with another fine shot from the edge of the box, which swerved into the top corner.

She then set up Suzanne Malone, on as a half-time substitute, who coolly converted from close-range.
Celtic were in scintillating form and in no mood to ease up.

They ran the Dons ragged and forced a penalty in the 83rd minute, when Malone’s cross was handled inside the box, and Murray converted the spot kick.

And the Dons’ misery was deepened when Hayley Cunningham completed the rout with the goal of the match - a superb curling shot from the corner of the area.

After the match, Celtic Ladies’ coach, Robert Docherty, said: “I’m absolutely delighted, first and foremost, to progress in the tournament.

“But our passing and approach play was fantastic today and the goals came from right throughout the team, which is really pleasing.”

And the Hoops’ gaffer gave special praise to the debut Celt, adding: “I thought Lauren MacMillan was excellent and showed that she will be a great addition to the squad.”

Scottish Women’s League Cup
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Lennoxtown

CELTIC...9
Gemmell 5, 66, McInally 9, Stokes, 25, Beattie 46, Murray 52, 83 (pen), Malone 80, Cunningham 85

ABERDEEN...1
(Djahansouzi, 49)

CELTIC: Johnstone; MacMillan; Beattie; Dalziel (Seagrave, 61); Stokes; Cunningham; McInally (Malone, 46); Gemmell; Murray; Crichton; Robertson
ABERDEEN: Martin; Campbell; Small; Taylor; P.Scott; Fitzpatrick; Fauld (McKenzie 75); Hamill; S.Scott; Wright; Djahansouzi