Celtic Women vs Rangers Women. Scottish Women's Premier League.
Penny Cars Stadium.
Report as Rangers beat Celtic 1-0 to draw level with their rivals in the SWPL; Kirsty Howat's stunning strike secured the victory; Celtic had a first half goal disallowed; leaders Glasgow City are five points ahead of the Old Firm with four games remaining
Friday 5 May 2023 07:58, UK
Kirsty Howat's stunning strike saw Rangers draw level with Celtic in the SWPL to keep their title hopes alive.
The striker smashed the ball into the net in the second half to secure Rangers' first victory over Celtic this season.
Celtic struggled to make an impact in the game with Caitlin Hayes disallowed goal their only shot on target.
Rangers are now level on points with their rivals, who are second on goal difference, with both sides five points behind SWPL leaders Glasgow City with four games remaining.
Rangers knew they had to win to remain in the title race and they dominated from kick-off but were fortunate to remain level when Caitlin Hayes' header was ruled out for Natasha Flint's push on Rangers goalkeeper Victoria Esson.
After Rachel McLauchlan's long-range drive was pushed over by Celtic keeper Pamela Tajonar before half time, they then broke the deadlock in style after the break.
Howat smashed a powerful shot in off the post then the visitors held off some late Celtic pressure to secure a vital win.
Kelly Clark had Celtic's best chance to level the game when Esson pushed Claire O'Riordan's header into her path, but she put the ball wide of the post.
Rangers conceded a 99th-minute equaliser in their last game against Celtic, but held on to remain within reach of Glasgow City.
Celtic can still win their first title and host City at Celtic Park on May 11, live on Sky Sports.
Celtic manager Fran Alonso told Sky Sports their goal should have stood:
"Extremely frustrated. We scored a legal goal in the first half.
"We are fighting for our lives. It's in our hands to win the league, and then it's an awful decision.
"We controlled the game, but they have quality and they punished us. Congratulations to them, but the disallowed goal affected the game in a massive way.
"No one knows why, it cannot happen.
"Very, very frustrating, and it's not in our hands anymore. I'm proud of the girls, but it wasn't to be. We are still second.
"Now the problem is that we depend on other results. It's still possible, but I'm devastated, because the girls deserved more today."
Rangers manager Malky Thomson on Sky Sports:
"We'd have left ourselves a mountain to climb [if we hadn't won]. The girls were so composed to see that game out, which we've not done in previous games
"It's a great bunch; they pull together when they need to pull together. The disappointment after the Hearts game dissipated after they came back to training.
"If you give her [Howat] half a chance, she knows what she's doing. It was struck so sweetly. She wins the game for us.
"It's great for me at Rangers. These kids have trained with us for two or three years now and they feel part of it. That's the future for Scotland and women's football.
"For me, it's an easy job because they're such a good group. You only learn from your mistakes. The girls are believing in themselves now - they take full responsibility in everything they do. I'm proud to be a part of it."
Glasgow City 2-1 Hibernian
Glasgow City remain five points clear at the top of the SWPL after a 2-1 win over a weakened Hibernian side.
Kinga Kozak gave the hosts the lead after just seven minutes, with Emily Whelan heading in Priscilla Chinchilla's cross to make it 2-0 before half-time.
Hibernian defender Siobhan Hunter volleyed home a consolation for Dean Gibson's side, who are 10 points behind Edinburgh rivals Hearts.
City host Hearts on Sunday before facing Celtic on May 11, live on Sky Sports. Hibernian are at home to Rangers.
Heart of Midlothian 1-1 Partick Thistle
In the other top-six game, midfielder Jenny Smith gave Hearts the lead in the capital, but centre-half and Thistle captain Demi Falconer bundled in an equaliser.
It was Thistle's second goal since the split and earned them their first point in their last six games.
Spartans 4-2 Dundee United
Spartans moved above Motherwell after a second half comeback to pile pressure on Dundee United in their battle to avoid the relegation play-off.
United captain Danni McGinley opened the scoring straight from a free-kick for the second time in three days, Spartans midfielder Katherine Smart then equalised before forward Georgie Robb regained the lead for United.
Defender Robyn McCafferty pulled Spartans level again before Smart scored her second to give Spartans the lead for the first time.
The home win was confirmed when an own goal boosted the scoreline to 4-2.
Motherwell 1-3 Hamilton Academical
Eilidh Austin inspired Hamilton to their first Lanarkshire derby victory of the season, with the on-loan Rangers striker scoring a hat-trick at the Excelsior Stadium.
Carla Boyce converted a penalty to make it 1-1, but the 17-year-old completed the club's first treble in this fixture.
Accies move to within two points of guaranteed safety next season after Dundee United's defeat. Motherwell drop down to eighth and are now a point behind Spartans.
Aberdeen 5-1 Glasgow Women
Aberdeen moved another step closer to safety with a comfortable victory over relegated Glasgow Women.
Bailley Collins gave Aberdeen the lead and forward Hannah Stewart scored a quickfire double before half-time.
Eilidh Shore's second-half strike was sharply followed by an own goal to move the Dons move seven points clear of the relegation play-off spot.
