Academy :: Girls

Tuesday, May 21

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CELTIC GIRLS' ACADEMY SUPPORTED BY THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE SCOTTISH COMMUNITIES CUP

Cash seized from criminals is currently being used to support the Scottish Football League Cup through a £1.8 million partly funded through the Proceeds of Crime Act..

This is giving increased opportunities in sport and physical activity for young people.

The Celtic Girls' Academy is one of the beneficiaries of this scheme, allowing the Academy to enhance its activities and produce a better experience for all the young players.

Celtic acknowledges this help and wishes to express its thanks for the financial assistance received.

LAST WEEKEND

Scottish Women's Football League Division One
Sunday 19 May 2013
Celtic 4 Forfar Farmington 2
At Toryglen Regional Football Centre
Arthur
Jones
Thomson
Harrison

Celtic's women recorded a fourth successive Premier League win at Toryglen, comfortably beating Forfar Farmington 4-2. In these victories a familiar pattern has been emerging, with the Hoops controlling the possession, tempo and shape of the games throughout without scoring enough goals to make the games safe at any stage.

Celtic had an ideal start when after 12 minutes Jackson produced some trickery on the right to give her the space to roll a delightful ball into the path of Arthur. Although closely marked by two defenders, she neatly drove the ball beyond Welton in the Forfar goal from 16 yards.

The Celtic midfield was in command throughout the first half and Arthur on the left wing and O'Neill from the right-back position kept their opponents occupied. Richards, Jackson and Thomson all had opportunities to increase the margin, but Welton was able to deal well with all their efforts. On the half-hour, Thomson came nearest when she headed a Fulton corner onto the top of the crossbar. When occasionally Forfar made forays into the Celtic half, they found Jones and Clark more than able to deal with any threat.

Just on the threshold of half-time, Forfar launched an attack down their left-hand side and were awarded a hotly-disputed penalty. However, protests were in vain, and Graham hit the spot-kick well beyond Fay's outstretched left arm. Once again the Hoops went in at the interval wondering how they could have commanded so much of the game without having a substantial lead.

It took Celtic some ten minutes of the second period before their midfield regained their previous control and when they did so chances again were created. Craig on the left and Jackson on the right were prominent in the supply chain. On 55 minutes it was Craig, battling successfully for the ball, who set up Thomson who scored with aplomb from inside the penalty area. This was followed by a succession of shots from Arthur Fulton and Richards failing to add to the lead.

The goal which relieved the strain on the Hoops arrived on 67 minutes. A breaking ball outside the penalty area sat up perfectly for centre-back Jones who brought the crowd to their feet with a thunderous strike leaving defence and keeper gasping. O, how she enjoyed that strike.

Harrison, who had taken over from Jackson at outside-right made it 4-1 on 78 minutes. Forfar came back immediately when Godfrey scored from inside the penalty area, completing one of Forfar's rare second half attacks.

Manager Peter Caulfield had been happy once more to change the personnel as he felt necessary, moving O'Neill to right-back in the absence of Brownlie and restoring captain Fay to goal after injury. One of the highlights of the afternoon was giving Girls' Academy graduate Carla Jackson only her second start in the First Team. During her time in action prior to her 68th-minute substitution she caught everyone's eye with her commitment, bravery, speed and ambition. In addition she delighted the onlookers with her footwork which would have gained her a leading role in Riverdance.

Additionally, Jones was at her imperious best at centre-back, and – unusually for a defensive player – controlling the whole ebb and flow of the game. Her wonderful drive into the Forfar net was undoubtedly the highlight of the afternoon for the onlookers who roared their appreciation.

At the end Celtic manager Peter Caulfield said: "There are times in football when the scoreline doesn't tell the real story of the match and this is one such occasion. Forfar may have scored twice, from a penalty at the end of the first half and with a goal near the end of the match, but Celtic were completely dominant throughout this game.

"The players pressed relentlessly to win the ball and I felt passed with great tempo and quality opening up the Forfar defence repeatedly. With a bit more composure we could have doubled our goal tally for the day and that may still not have done the team justice.

"This young team is now beginning to show signs of what they are capable of and I have to make special mention of Carla Jackson and Rachael O'Neill, who at 15 and 16 years old respectively, were outstanding at right wing and right full-back. This was a game, however, when terrific performances by all the players made this a fantastic and entertaining game to watch for the crowd in attendance."

Celtic: Fay, O'Neill (Cairns), Jones, Craig, McKean (Walker), Fulton (Sinclair), Thomson, Jackson (Harrison), Richards, Arthur. Sub: Farrell.

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13s Scottish Cup Round 2
Saturday 18 May 2013
Hamilton Academical White 1 Celtic 13s 5
At Bent Recreation Ground
Callaghan
Napier 2
Wilson
Cameron

Coach Tina Ferguson: "Disappointingly for us, the team allowed Hamilton to start the better side. Despite the home side creating the first few chances they had no success in front of goal. It took about 15 minutes of play to pass before Celtic began to show signs of their potential and on 18 minutes managed to break the deadlock. The last ten minutes of the first half and the whole of the second half, Celtic played more like the Celtic we have known and dominated in terms of possession and goal scoring opportunities.

"This was a massive learning experience for the players. They got a practical taste of what we have been informing them. That is, talent can only take you so far. To be able to go further you need to be willing and prepared to work harder than your opponents. However, we were delighted to see that the team had the character to rectify the slow start and dominate the remainder of the game. We now look forward to progressing to the next round of the Scottish Cup."

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13s Scottish Cup Round 2
Saturday 18 May 2013
Celtic 12s v Bonnyrigg Rose Red
At Crownpoint

Coach Liam Pattie: "Celtic 12s carried their excellent league form into this Scottish Cup tie with a comfortable win. The team took an early two goal lead. However, Bonnyrigg found a way back into the game with a goal of their own and proved very difficult to break down for long periods of the first half. The players, however, did not let this frustrate them and ended up taking full control of proceedings and went on to win the game very comfortably in what was another very impressive performance from everyone involved. We now look forward to the draw for the next round."

Scorers for Celtic were E. Johnstone, E. Lawton, L. Davidson, J. McLure, A. Boyle and E. McLure.

Celtic 12s: J. Bailey, J. Hall, E. McLure, E. Lawton, L. Davidson, A. Boyle, J. McLure, M. Rennie.

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13s Scottish Cup Round 2
Saturday 18 May 2013
Celtic 11s 1 Hibs Girls 13s 2
At Milton
Hoole

Coach Gerry Mannion: "Once more Celtic 11s girls faced what on paper looked an uphill task, as they faced a team from Hibs Girls 13s. The first period started with both teams sharing equal possession only for Hibernian to take the lead midway through the first half. For most teams this would have meant the floodgates opening, bearing in mind the age difference. However, the courageous Celtic players went on to dominate the rest of the first half with slick passing and exciting passages of play which led to a well deserved equaliser by Natasha Hoole after great link-up play through midfield.

"The second half was evenly matched with both sides creating many chances. The stronger Hibs players started to dominate play with the game looking to be heading for extra time. Then, with the last kick of the match, Hibs scored what was to be the winning goal.

"Hannah and I could not have been more proud of this squad, watching them challenging themselves to become better football players against older opposition today, just coming that little bit short. We take only positives and there were many from today's performance."

Celtic 11: Allison, Chalmers, Warrington, Wands, Shaw, Hoole, Mcgowan, Howard,Connor, Smith, Storrie.

THIS WEEK

15s League Cup Semifinal
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Celtic 15s v Rangers
Glasgow Green Football Centre
Kick-Off 7 pm
Reinforced Grass
Celtic: Hoops
Pending

THIS WEEKEND

Scottish Women's Premier League
Sunday 26 May 2013
Spartans v Celtic
Spartans Academy
Kick-Off 1 pm
Astro
Celtic: Hoops
Pending

Scottish Women's Football League Division One
Sunday 26 May 2013
Paisley Saints v Celtic Reserves
Seedhill Playing Fields
Seedhill Road
Paisley PA1 1QS
Kick-Off 2.15 pm
Access 1.30 pm
Astro
Celtic: All black
Confirmed
No aluminium studs
£1 deposit for lockers

17s League
Sunday 26 May 2013
Glasgow Girls v Celtic 17s
Cancelled
Glasgow Girls no longer in league

West 15s Performance League
Saturday 25 May 2013
Glasgow Girls v Celtic 15s
Cancelled
Glasgow Girls no longer in league

South-west 15s League
Saturday 25 May 2013
East Kilbride Thistle v Celtic 14s
Pending

West-South-west 13s Performance League
Saturday 25 May 2013
Rangers v Celtic 13s
Nethercraigs Football Centre
310 Corkerhill Road
Glasgow, G52 1RR
Kick-Off 10 am
Astro
Blue, white, red
Celtic: Hoops
Confirmed

South-west 13s Development League
Saturday 25 May 2013
Kilbirnie v Celtic 12s
Ladeside / Valefield Pavillion
Kirkland Road
Kilbirnie KA25 6HF
Kick-Off 10 am
Grass tbc
Yellow, black, yellow
Celtic: Hoops
Confirmed

West 13s Development League
Saturday 25 May 2013
Port Glasgow v Celtic 11s
Notredame High School
Dunlop street
Greenock
PA16 9BJ
Kick-Off 12.30 pm
Black and white stripes black, black
Celtic: All lime green
Confirmed

FORTHCOMING GAMES

Scottish Women's Premier League
Wednesday 5 June 2013
Buchan Ladies v Celtic
Maud Junior FC
Kick-Off 7 pm
Grass
Purple, black, purple
Pending

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Scottish Women’s Football League Division One
Wednesday 5 June 2013 tbc
Inverness v Celtic Reserves
Pending

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17s League
Sunday 5 May 2013
Hamilton Academical v Celtic 17s
This game is postponed

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West 15s Performance League
Saturday 25 May 2013
Glasgow Girls v Celtic 15s
Pending

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South-west 15s League
Saturday 4 May 2013
Celtic 14s v Dumfries
This game postponed

South-west 15s League
Saturday 16 June 2013
Prestwick v Celtic 14s
Pending

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West 13s Development League
Saturday 4 May 2013
Dumfries v Celtic 11s
This game postponed