Celtic 4 Aberdeen 0 ScottishPower Women’s Premier League Sunday 14 December New Douglas Park
Aberdeen Women suffered a 4-0 loss at the hands of Celtic at New Douglas Park on Sunday afternoon in a meeting that was over as a contest after just 20 minutes of action.
The hosts raced into a 2-0 lead in the the first 11 minutes before Saoirise Noonan grabbed her second and her sides third ten minutes later to end any slim hopes of a Dons fight back.
There was two changes made to the side that defeated Falkirk in the Scottish Cup last week – Katie Cox returned in goals, with Jess Broadrick also coming back into the defence prompting a slight reshuffle that involved Fran Ogilvie moving further up the pitch after deputising at the back against the Bairns.
Bridget Galloway and Kerry Beattie missed out entirely through injury, with Erin Carrol retaining her place amongst the substitutes after making her debut last week. Holly McEvoy returned to the matchday squad after recovering from an ankle injury.
Like the Dons, Celtic swapped ‘keepers for their return to league action, Lisa Rodgers in, Adelaide Gay out. Claire Walsh and Jenny Smith also reclaimed their starting berths in the side.
It took just two minutes for Celtic to open the scoring. Noonan headed home at the back-post with the Dons undone by another set piece after Cox has saved well, after a Mya Christie back pass was short and scooped up by Luke not long before.
It was 2-0 on 11, Scotland international Lawton finished low and across the helpless Cox from close range first time after getting on the end of Smith’s cut-back.
Noonan made it three after 22 minutes, but this time The Dons had every right to feel aggrieved after Toni Finnegan was on the receiving end of a dangerous studs up tackle from behind in the immediate build up that looked a certain foul, Celtic charging up the park and scoring seconds later with Finnegan writhing on the deck.
Cox showed her quality to deny Noonan of an early hat-trick, the on-loan Chelsea keeper making an excellent stop from point blank range.
With the game as good as over after the third, the remainder of the first half was largely a non event. A rare moment of first half Aberdeen quality going forward fashioned a chance for Black with Rodgers saving well, the flag raised for offside anyway.
Half-time Celtic 3-0 Aberdeen.
Luke would have been disappointed not to have made it four at the start of the half, she fired wide after an impressive move. The fourth was to arrive just before the hour, the impressive Noonan’s threaded ball tricking the Dons defence, allowing Gallacher to jinx past Broadrick apply the finish.
Ogilvie forced a save from Rodgers from a dead ball minutes later after a quick flurry of Dons pressure that earned a couple of corners.
The hat-trick continued to escape Noonan’s grasp, she really should have found the back of the net from a free header at the back post. Immediately after Scott Booth called to his bench, introducing Darcie Miller and Holly Daniel in the place of Finnegan and Black.
Alex Clarke was called on for the last ten to replace Stewart as the game continued to wind down. Carrol was next on a few minutes, making her league debut after featuring in the Scottish Cup last week.
The Dons looked much improved in the second 45 but the damage had already been done. AFC Women’s 2025 concludes with the visit of Rangers to the Balmoral next Sunday.
Full-time, Celtic 4-0 Aberdeen
STATS
Aberdeen: 24. Katie Cox, 26. Mya Christie, 4. Jess Broadrick, 15. Maddie Finnie, 17. Emma Ilijoski, 13. Fran Ogilvie, 18. Eva Thomson, 6. Toni Leigh Finnegan (Daniel 71′), 22. Abi Tobin, 5. Aimee Black (Miller 71′), 9. Hannah Stewart (C) (Clarke 81′)
Substitutes: 1. Anna Prawer, 2. Alix Mendez, 3. Niamh Noble, 11. Holly Daniel, 14. Holly McEvoy, 20. Alex Clarke, 25. Darcie Miller, 28. Erin Carrol
Booked: Clarke 85′
Celtic: 19. Lisa Rodgers, 2. Claire Walsh, 4. Lisa Robertson, 7. Amy Gallacher, 8. Jennifer Smith, 15. Kelly Clark (C), 18. Hannah Luke, 20. Saoirse Noonan, 23. Emma Lawton, 25. Momo Nakao, 46. Darra Dawson
Substitutes: 33. Adelaide Gay, 3. Amy Richardson, 6. Chloe Craig, 16. Anna Westin, 32. Emma Knox, 47. Sienna McGoldrick
Goals: Noonan 2′ 22′ Lawton 11′ Gallacher 59′
Booked: Lawton 65′
