By Stephen Bark
TWO penalties and two terrific saves meant Glasgow City and Celtic played out a goalless Glasgow derby at K Park.
In an evenly contested first half, the first opportunities fell City’s way as Ode Fulutudilu and Hayley Lauder manged to get on the end of Lauren Davidson’s crosses but neither could find the target.
At the other end, a well worked corner saw Caitlin Hayes set up Jodie Bartle whose effort was comfortably saved by Lee Alexander.
Chances then fell to Julia Molin and Lauder on the edge of the box and, while the firsts was saved, the latter shot wide.
With just over half an hour played, a foul on Chinchilla in the box presented City with their best chance to break the deadlock in the first half.
Up stepped Janine Van Wyk but her effort, destined for the bottom corner, was met by a terrific save from Chloe Logan.
Moments later, Van Wyk was on defensive duties when she flicked a Celtic cross clear but only as far as Rachel Donaldson whose thunderbolt of shot was met by a save from Alexander’s top drawer.
City carved the first clear chance of the second half when Davidson’s cross from the right fell nicely in the six yard box for Zaneta Wyne but somehow Logan was able to smother the ball on the line from point-blank range.
At the other end, City keeper Alexander went from zero to hero when she was pulled up for a foul in the box. Up stepped Sarah Ewans but she was no match for the Scotland No. 1 who pulled off another fantastic save.
It was City who went close next as sub Clare Shine set up Jo Love from 25 yards but her rasping effort came thundering off the crossbar with Logan stranded.
With time running out, a perfect delivery from a Lauder corner found Shine in space eight yards out but her header was cleared off the line by the diving Anna Filbey.
There was time left for Jenna Clark to be sent off for a last player challenge as in the end, defences won out at K Park.
Next up for City, it’s back at Broadwood as we host Forfar Farmington on Sunday.
Glasgow City: Alexander, Michie (Fulton 70), Wyne (Foley 79), Lauder (Crichton 86), Van Wyk, Love, Fulutudilu (Shine 70), J. Clark, Davidson (Colvill 70), Molin, Chinchilla. Subs not used:Toland, Ross.
Celtic: Logan, Bartle, Lee, Robertson, Ewans (Pollard 78), Donaldson (Atkinson 78), Teegarden, K. Clark, Hayes, Filbey, Warrington. Subs not used: Keenan, Craig, Galabadaarachchi, Nicolson, Johnstone.