It was an afternoon to forget for Motherwell, as the women of steel suffered a confidence-draining defeat at the hands of league leaders Celtic who cruised to a commanding six-goal advantage to extend their lead at the top of the SWPL league table.
An Aimee Gallacher and Katherine Loferski double was soon followed by strikes from Chloe Craig and former Motherwell striker Tiree Burchill to compound another frustrating experience on the road for Paul Brownlie’s side.
Brownlie made two changes from last weekend’s cup exit to Montrose, with Tara McGonigle and Jo Addie both returning to the starting XI, as Hannah Cunningham and Murron Cunningham settled for a place on the bench.
Looking to finally conclude their struggles away from home, a well-structured Motherwell side started brightly, limiting Celtic opportunities in the final third whilst creating chances on the break.
However, Motherwell were left to reflect on their positive opening to the game, as Celtic capitalised on a fast-paced counter-attack. Shen Menglu’s driving run from the left caught the Motherwell backline in knots before firing a low delivery across the face of goal, which Gallacher coolly dispatched form close-range.
The hosts doubled their advantage five minutes later, as Natalie Ross’ low delivery from the right was met by Loferski who directed a low effort into the bottom-right corner, beyond the reach of Emily Mutch.
Fran Alonso’s side had a third less than four-minutes later, as Craig powered home a well-placed header from Shen Mengyu’s floated corner kick, with Motherwell’s positive opening passage of play and structured game plan undone in a brief spell of complacency.
Celtic’s fourth came on the half-hour mark in similar circumstances to the opening few goals. Paula Partido’s low cross from he right flashed across the face of goal, and a clever first touch from Loferski allowed the striker to evade Gill Inglis’ late lunging tackle before netting her second of the afternoon.
The league leaders had five on the stroke of half-time, as Gallacher pickpocketed Addie deep into the Motherwell final third, and the striker calmly placed her effort past Mutch to secure a commanding five-goal lead at the break.
Celtic rounded off the afternoon on the hour mark, as former Motherwell striker Burchill drilled an exceptional effort from the edge of the penalty area which ricocheted off of both posts before nestling into the bottom-right corner.
The women of steel will return to action, with Dundee United the visitors at K-Park next weekend.
