Ten-player Celtic reclaim Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup with victory over Rangers

Rangers- 0

Celtic- 1 (Morgan Cross, 26')

 

Leanne Crichton opted for two changes following Rangers' 6-0 loss away to Glasgow City from last Sunday's league action. Kathryn Hill and Mia McAulay were reintroduced to the starting XI, with Camille Lafaix and Lily Boyce dropping to the bench. Sophie Black also returned to the bench in place of Fallon Connolly-Jackson, who missed out.

 

Grant Scott made double the amount of changes to his Celtic side after their 1-1 draw at home to Partick Thistle. Morgan Cross started after not featuring last weekend, with Chloe Craig, Evie Rabjohn, and Hannah Luke also replacing Jennifer Smith, Poppy Pritchard, Shannon McGregor and Darra Dawson. Mirren Duncan features again on the bench.

 

The excitement of the final began with a firework display before kick-off, however the opening minutes were quite the contrast with a weak Saoirse Noonan effort on goal being the only notable action.

 

Rangers raised some eyebrows in the 11th minute after a swift counterattack saw Laura Berry played through along the right wing. She then cut it back for Mia McAulay inside the box to strike, however her effort crashed painfully against the outer side of the post and away.

 

Rangers had not conceded a single goal in this year's Scottish Gas Scottish Cup before today. That changed in the 26th minute when Saoirse Noonan did exceptionally well to win back the ball and send in a great ball, finding Morgan Cross for a low finish and to score her fifth cup goal of the season, and giving Celtic the all-important lead.

 

The game had levelled in terms of momentum with chances coming and going for either side. Celtic looked like doubling their lead minutes after the opener when Chloe Craig headed over from a corner, and Katie Wilkinson forced a low but comfortable save from Adelaide Gay on 34 minutes.

 

Chances came the way of Rangers for the remainder of the first-half. Eilidh Austin and May Cruft both found space to work a shot, however both efforts were wayward of the goal and no problem for Gay. The Celtic keeper did need to make a save when Katie Wilkinson went through on goal, but her effort was too central for trouble.

 

Calliste Brookshire's cross-turned-shot caused worry for Celtic in additional time, however it sailed just wide to maintain the score before the half-time whistle.

 

 

In a carbon-copy of the first, Rangers started the second half the stronger of the two sides. Wilkinson unleashed a forceful shot within one minute of the restart, but it served as another simple low save that Gay held onto.

 

Emma Lawton picked up the first yellow card of the game after bringing down Brookshire who made a promising break along the left wing. The resulting free kick saw McAulay head an effort towards goal, but Gay did well to recover and catch the ball.

 

Grant Scott and Celtic made the first change of the game in the 55th minute, replacing goalscorer Morgan Cross with fresh legs in Jennifer Smith. The substitute almost made an immediate impact with a sweet hit on goal, but Jenna Fife dove down well to stop it.

 

Lawton was given a second yellow card by referee Abbie Hendry in the 58th minute for a late challenge on Brookshire, reducing Celtic down to ten.

 

Leanne Crichton made her first substitution of the afternoon 65 minutes in, with Brogan Hay replacing Eilidh Austin as Rangers still chased the game.

 

Celtic made three changes as they continued their fight in preserving the lead. Evie Rabjohn, Hannah Luke and top goalscorer Saoirse Noonan were taken off, and they were replaced by Shannon McGregor, Tara O'Hanlon and Momo Nakao on 73 minutes. May Cruft was also replaced by Camille Lafaix as Rangers continued on their hunt for an equaliser.

 

Laura Berry and Claire Walsh both received bookings 81 minutes in following an altercation.

 

Celtic made one final change in the 85th minute, with Poppy Pritchard replacing Amy Gallacher.

 

It was Rangers with the player advantage who kept up the pressure, but Celtic held firm with Adelaide Gay making some sharp saves and clearances inside of the box. Six minutes of additional time were given by the fourth official, but the minutes trickled away and the referee blew for full-time. Celtic, despite playing almost 40 minutes with 10 players, had won the Women's Scottish Cup for only their third time ever.

 

 

 

Rangers: Fife, Docherty, Eddie, Hill, McAulay, Austin (Hay 65'), Berry, Cruft (Lafaix 75'), Brookshire, Wilkinson, Kim

 

Unused Substitutes: Kelly, Pegram, Sabajo, Mengwen, McLeary, Black, Boyce

 

Celtic: Gay, Walsh, Robertson, Craig, Gallacher (Pritchard 86'), Rabjohn (Nakao 73'), Clark, Cross (Smith 57'), Luke (O'Hanlon 74'), Noonan (McGregor 74'), Lawton

 

Unused Substitutes: Rodgers, Duncan, Dawson