Celtic Women manager Fran Alonso aiming for more cup final glory after Partick Thistle win

By Dave Flanigan

October 2, 2022

Celtic Women manager Fran Alonso said he’s dreaming of another cup final after he watched his side defeat Partick Thistle in the Sky Sports Cup at Petershill Park.

Alonso’s side opened the scoring after fifteen minutes when Lucy Ashworth-Clifford clipped a low header into the Thistle net.

They doubled their advantage ten minutes later as Jacynta scored a customary goal for her 9th of the season, and Celtic held on to see out the game with a clean sheet to progress to the quarter-finals.

Alonso told Sky Sports after the game: “Their soul is fantastic because we are in the quarter-finals and the clean sheet as well which is something that we’re taking a lot of pride from. I felt for 30 minutes we were outstanding, I loved how the team played, the tempo was great on a difficult dry pitch, so the ball didin’t travel very far but our decision making and the quality, moving the ball very fast, so I really really liked the first 30 minutes.

“I think we were poor for 60 minutes, at least poor by the standards we want, we didn’t stick to the plan. We forced it through the middle when we could go wide and exploit 1 vs 1s, the things we’re really good at.

“So I think that the decision making could have been better. but overall I have to be happy because the most important thing is to get through. We experienced playing in the final and winning this cup and is our dream at least to be in the final and we’re one step closer, so I’m very happy about that.

It’s an international period next up for Celtic Women, with Kelly Clark, Olivia Chance, Claire O’Riordan and Clarissa Larisey all set to play for their respective national teams over the fortnight break.

When they return, they face win-less bottom side Glasgow Girls as they look to maintain their spot in second in the table, with only goal difference separating Celtic, Rangers and Glasgow City.

Here’s hoping it can be another season to remember for Alonso’s side, and that they can add to their cup double from the last campaign.

In other news: Paradise icons lose out to former team-mates in day of English lower-league Celtic reunions