There was disappointment at Firhill today, as Celtic took the first silverware of the season with a 1-0 over Glasgow City in the SWPL Cup Final.
Caitlin Hayes’ (26) first half header was the difference between the sides, meaning Fran Alonso’s team took home the trophy.
Head coach Eileen Gleeson made just the one change from the 5-1 win over Motherwell, bringing into Lauren Davidson for Tyler Dodds, while Clare Shine and Mairead Fulton were able to return to bench after illness.
It was the Hoops who would grab the first chance of the game when Charlie Wellings bulleted a head off the bar after just 60 seconds in explosive start.
Celtic would have another chance shortly afterwards, when Lee Alexander was called into action after Cheyenne Shorts outpaced Agata Filipa to get a shot in on goal.
And Alonso’s side would go into the lead just after the 25 minute mark, when Hayes met Sarah Harkes’ free kick to plant a bullet header beyond Alexander and into the net.
City’s best chance of the first half came just before the whistle when Hayley Lauder’s inch perfect free kick flashed across goal. Jenna Clark got a touch it, but Celtic bodies ensured it was scrambled away before it could be poked home.
Alexander was called into action again early in the second half when Harkes’ drive from the edge of the area was parried wide, before the Scotland number one collected.
An even better save came moments later when some neat play from the Hoops saw Jacynta free in the box, but Alexander made herself big and blocked an almost certain Celtic second.
Ode Fulutudilu a most fired City level on 65 minutes when she burst beyond the Celtic defence, but her looped cross narrowly evaded Prischila Chinchilla at the far post.
Neat play from Chinchilla almost pay dividends when she fired in an effort from distance, but Rachel Johnstone was equal to her drive.
Claire Walsh then cannoned Lauder’s corner the crossbar as City pressure began to build in the closing stages.
It was to be Celtic’s day, however, as City couldn’t force an equaliser in front of a crowd of almost 4,000 fans at Firhill.
City: Alexander, Lauder, Walsh, Fulutudilu, Clark, Davidson (Fulton, 45), Agata Filipa, Farrelly, Colvill (Dodds, 86), Molin, Chinchilla.
Celtic: Johnstone, Bartle, Shorts, Craig, Jacynta, Larisey (Shen, 81), Chance, Harkes, Clark, Hayes, Wellings.