By Stephen Bark
A dramatic last-minute winner from Lisa Forrest saw Glasgow City’s Under 18s crowned Scottish Cup champions after a 1-0 win against Celtic at Petershill Park.
In an evenly contested match, a fine strike from Forrest deep into added on time was the difference.
The first chance of the match fell to City as Madilyn Wilson’s cross found Forrest free at the far post but she turned the ball wide.
At the other end, Keira Chuter had a couple of chances, the first was over the bar and the second saved by Ava Easdon.
The best chance of the half fell to Forrest when the ball was awkwardly played back to Abbie Ferns in the Celtic goal. The keeper headed the ball up rather than away and Forrest nipped in to head goalwards but couldn’t find the target.
With halftime approaching, Tiree Birchill then had a chance for Celtic but her effort flew over the crossbar as the sides went in goalless.
At the start of the second half, good interplay between Sophia Martin and Forrest gave the latter an opportunity from the edge of the area but her drive came thundering off the bar.
From a Celtic corner, Olivia Foulds had a great chance but Easdon pulled off a terrific point-blank save.
At the other end, a City corner found Forrest in the six yard box but she couldn’t turn her header goalwards.
With the match approaching full time, Birchill was played through, one-on-one with Easdon but her strike flew over the bar.
Another fine save from Easdon denied Louise Porter from a Celtic corner as the match looked to be heading to extra time.
City had other ideas however. Sub Rachel Murchie plucked a cross out the air and set up Forrest who fired the ball beyond Ferns to give City the lead in the dying seconds.
There was enough time left for City to earn a late freekick before the referee’s final whistle sparked jubilant scenes on the field and in the stands.
Glasgow City: Easdon, Reid, Wilson, Ritchie, Ward, Jackson (Murchie 78), Forrest (Shields 90+5), R. Wright, Martin, Wearing (MacKay 78), Gallagher (MacInnes 56). Subs not used: A. Wright, McQueen, Hanlon.
Celtic: Ferns, Porter, Brady, Dobbins, McGurk, Fraser, Chuter, Barclay, Goldie, Birchill, Foulds (Ryan 63). Subs not used: Crean, Gillies, O’Caroll, Douglas.