Although last week’s win against Celtic secured Glasgow City’s fourth successive league title, a further three points were added to their tally after a final win against Inverness. News of Celtic’s 5-2 defeat away at Spartans only emphasised the margin of City’s victory, with six points eventually separating the clubs.
City fired an impressive 11 goals past Inverness with Ruesha Littlejohn claiming seven of them in a game that saw the champions totally dominate the pitch. City put the first points on the board after 14 minutes with a neat pass from Sue Lappin into a packed penalty box, where Littlejohn scored her first of the day.
The duo were back in action 15 minutes later when Lappin split the defence with a brilliant reverse pass, leaving Littlejohn to seal the deal. Littlejohn then had the chance to complete her hat-trick from the penalty spot after an Inverness defender handled in the box. With the keeper sent the wrong way, however, she managed to shoot past the post and City remained two goals ahead.
Looking to put this tight, Littlejohn’s third goal arrived just two minutes before half time when Leeane Campbell fed the ball into the box where she was quick to turn and fire past Kim Jappy in goal.
No sooner had the teams made it back on to the pitch did City increase the lead once again thanks to Lisa Evans who drove into the box and fired across the keeper into the far corner. Littlejohn then took her tally to four, followed by Lauren McMurchie who scored after a cross from Leanne Ross. After her brilliant set up, Ross then went one better and scored goal number seven.
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Golden girl of the day, Littlejohn, then went on a scoring rampage, scoring two goals in a minute. The first came after a pass from Evans and the second was arguable the goal of the game. The ball was worked down the right hand side and when it come into the box, Ross stepped over the ball to allow it to run to Jane Ross, who read Littlejohn’s run perfectly and threaded a pass to the striker who scored her fifth goal of the game.
Leanne Ross then scored her second of the day, to take her season’s total to an incredible 54, when she volleyed home a cross from Emma Fernon after Rachel Corsie’s pass had opened up the Inverness defence. The scoring was complete on the final whistle as Littlejohn found the net from 20 yards when her shot flew in off the far post.
Speaking after the match, City’s manager, Peter Caulfield, said, “It is always an outstanding achievement for any team to win a league title but to have seen this current team now win the title for the fourth successive season is magnificent. I believe this is the best group of players ever assembled in Scotland and their hunger and desire to be winners is incomparable.
It is not only the fact that they win games consistently, but it is the manner in which they do so and the quality of football they play which is a credit to them. When you have players as committed and focused as the players in this team then it makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
The match will have been extra special for captain, Laura Montgomery, as it was the last time she pulled on the Glasgow City jersey after announcing she would retire after the match following 12 years as captain.
Caulfield praised Montgomery, saying, “She has been an example to every player at this club, over the last twelve years, of how to look after yourself and prepare for games. Her focus and winning mentality have been great for everyone to see and the dressing room will be a strange place without her next season.
“The club may only be twelve years old but Laura has established herself in that time as a true Glasgow City legend and what better way to end a career than to see her hoist the Championship trophy again.”
Kirsty Page, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
Image credit: Lorraine Hill
