A difficult afternoon for Motherwell as the women of steel struggled to break down an organised Celtic side in a tough encounter at the Penny Cars stadium on Sunday.
Larisey Clarissa fired Celtic into the ascendency early into the first half before Jemma Hughes netted a spectacular equaliser minutes later. Annie Timoney restored the hosts advantage seconds before half time before Charlie Wellings added a third early into the second half.
A Chloe Craig double and Izzy Atkinson strike followed to settle a disappointing 6-1 defeat for Paul Brownlie’s side.
Looking to narrow the gap to bitter rivals Rangers, Celtic started on the front foot with Fran Alonso’s side testing Ciara Duff in the Motherwell goal.
Sarah Harkes powerful free kick ricocheted its way back to the feet of the American who picked out Clarissa with an intelligent through ball, but the strikers hopeful effort sailed wide of the target.
Minutes later, Celtic found their breakthrough. Harkes’ incisive through ball fell kindly to the feet of Olafasdottir Gros’ on the right, who skilfully worked her way into the box before firing an enticing delivery across the face of goal, and Clarissa coolly slotted her strike home at the back post.
Demoralised with the early setback, Motherwell toiled in search of a route back into the game. Kelly Clark’s mistimed clearance was superbly intercepted by Hughes at the edge of the penalty area, and the forward’s magnificent strike nestled perfectly into the top left corner.
Celtic continued to threaten the Motherwell goal and with the half time whistle looming, the hosts restored their advantage.
Wellings floated corner kick fell kindly to Timoney at the edge of the box and her audacious attempt evaded everyone before finding the bottom right corner.
The hosts continued to flood the Motherwell penalty area and added their third of the afternoon in the early stages of the second half.
Despite the game initially being halted for a Motherwell substitution, Celtic continued to play on and after an exceptional run from Bowie, Wellings escaped her marker to stab home a stealthy finish at the back post.
Minutes later, Celtic added a fourth from the penalty spot. After initially being impeded in the box, Craig stepped up and placed her composed effort past Duff.
In the dying stages of the game, the hosts secured their fifth. Wellings strike was superbly parried away by Duff, but only to the feet of Atkinson who fired home from close range. The striker appeared to score from an offside position, but the referee looked disinterested in the adamant Motherwell pleas.
Minutes from full time, Craig netted her second and Celtic’s sixth of the afternoon after latching onto Tyler Toland’s drilled corner kick to complete a disappointing afternoon for Paul Brownlie’s side.
