Motherwell will be encouraged with their performance despite suffering a 4-0 defeat to Celtic at the Penny Cars Stadium on Wednesday.
Charlie Welling would fire the hosts in front from close range early on, before adding her second of the game on the stroke of half-time.
An unfortunate Jo Addie own goal would give Celtic a third, before a late Clarissa Larisey strike sealed victory for the visitors.
Motherwell applied the early pressure and were unfortunate not to open the scoring in the early stages.
Leanne Crichton’s perfectly-weighted through-ball found Gemma Hughes unmarked at the edge of the box, and the forward skilfully beat her opponent before firing her strike towards goal, but her effort was easily gathered by the keeper.
Minutes later, Gill Inglis’ clever interception deep into the Celtic half released Lori Gardner, who burst with pace before placing her strike past Chloe Logan. However, the winger’s effort landed agonisingly wide of the Celtic post.
Despite Motherwell’s early chances, it would be the visitors who would find the opener after 15 minutes.
Chloe Warrington’s in-swinging cross found Welling unmarked in the box, and the forward calmly placed her strike past Khym Ramsay from close range.
Celtic would double their advantage on the stroke of half-time. Shen Mengyu’s low-driven cross again found Welling unmarked in the box, and the striker coolly slotted her strike past Ramsay into the bottom left corner.
The league leaders would add a third in the latter stages of the game. Rachael Donaldson was left in acres of space on the right, and the midfielder’s powerful low cross was inadvertently deflected past Ramsay by teammate Addie’s tackle into the bottom left corner.
With 10 minutes left to play, Celtic would seal all three points by adding a fourth. Donaldson’s whipped in free-kick was parried away by Ramsay, but only as far as Larisey who comfortably followed up from a yard out.
Motherwell will be encouraged with their display and will have positives to take before they host Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton in the first-ever women’s Lanarkshire derby later next month.
