Last night in the SWPL 1, in front of a record Scottish crowd for a game of Womens football, Celtic heroically came back from 1-0 down at Celtic Park to beat Glasgow City 3-1.
The visitors got off to a great start 20 minutes in when forward Lauren Davidson capitalised on a Chloe Craig error and slotted it past Pamela Tajonar in the Celtic goal.
Whatever Fran Alonso said during the break definitely worked, as Celtic came out all guns blazing in the second half.
Despite Celtic’s push for an equaliser, it was Glasgow City who nearly got the second of the game when Tajonar was forced to make a tremendous save to deny Anna Oscarsson.
Glasgow City finally crumbled to Celtic’s pressure a minute later when Amy Gallagher knocked the ball back to Natasha Flint who hammered a shot low and hard into the back of the net to put Celtic level.
With the noise of the Green Brigade pushing them on, Celtic finally took the lead on the 75th minute when Claire O’Riordan headed home from a corner.
Celtic sealed the win with seven minutes to go when a long ball over the top sent Katherine Loferski through on goal and she slotted it nicely beyond the keeper.
A fantastic win for Celtic in the title race as they close the gap on Glasgow City. With two games left to play, Celtic sit two points behind City.
As well as a fantastic result, another real positive to take from the game was the magnificent attendance of 9,553. A new Scottish women’s domestic record attendance.
In a post-match interview, Celtic manager Fran Alonso said:
“I feel proud of the 9000 people who decide to come here and beat the domestic attendance record.”
THE GREEN WALL
Earlier this year, Celtic’s fan section the Green Brigade launched a new campaign for their standing section to take the whole of the Jock Stein stand to allow for more fans to stand, while improving the atmosphere at the stadium. A statement from the North Curve Twitter page read:
“Dortmund’s yellow wall is arguably the most iconic stand in world football.”
“In Rome and across Italy you have the famous curvas. Even closer to home the Kop in Liverpool retains mythical status. Yet Celtic Park – a place we like to think tops all else – lacks a traditional end of reputation and of influence. The Celtic support has evolved considerably in the last decade. Fans want to stand at matches yet only 2,700 are given that option. A similar number is on a waiting list although it is likely far more would take up the option once it presents itself. On those famous European nights at Celtic Park most of the Lisbon Lions end will stand, and at Hampden the entire goal end and usually more choose to stand. Celtic also boasts a vibrant and growing scene of fans who want to play a more active role on match days and beyond.”
“The Green Brigade have long established themselves and the North Curve Celtic initiative is over 1000 members. Bhoys Celtic have added their own mark to the support, now housed immediately opposite the standing section. It is inevitable that the standing capacity at Celtic Park will be increased, the big question is where? We believe the answer is fairly obvious and will cater for all – the Celtic End.”
There is no doubt that players on the park can definitely receive and extra boost from the atmosphere in the stands and the prospect of a full standing section in the Jock Stein end in full voice is an exciting one.
BOBBY GORDON
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