YFS
In a game of two completely contrasting halves of football, Hearts came out on top of a thrilling encounter in the Scottish Womans Football Scottish Youth Cup Semi final at Ravenscraig Sports Centre in Motherwell. Jennifer Margaret Dodds and a Naomi Welch double gave Hearts a 3-0 half time advantage. However, a spiriting second half showing from Celtic and goals from Jacqueline McLure and Lauren Davidson made it a nervy finish for Hearts, but they did just enough to get themselves a date with Falkirk at Toryglen in the final. Hearts beat Forfar Farmington Eagles 5 goals to nil to get themselves into this semi final, whilst Celtic recorded a 5-1 victory over Hibs.
The game never really got to life until around 10 minutes in, when Jennifer Margaret Dodds put Hearts 1-0 up. Naomi Welch powerfully ran down the right hand side all the way to the corner flag, and she pulled the ball back to Dodds who was in a very good position to finish across Jade Bailey in the Celtic goal. Welch providing a great cut back to Dodds, and this combination would prove to cause Celtic many problems.
Even in the early stages, Hearts' number 4 Naomi Welch was proving to be the main danger for Celtic, and her latest effort on goal was a spectacular one. The bouncing ball evading all but Welch, and she managed to chip the ball just over the head of Lauren Davidson, and then to bring the ball down with an expert touch, and the half volley looked destined for the top corner, but for Bailey in the Celtic goal it would've been. Terrific save and well held at the second attempt from her. Hearts almost doubling their lead.
It wasn't long however until Hearts did double their lead, and it couldn't of been any other than Welch. Her powerful running providing too many problems for the Celtic defenders, and she was brought down inside the box, and a penalty was given by the referee. No complaints from Celtic. Welch took the penalty herself and she rifled it into the top corner with conviction, giving Bailey not a hope, despite going the right way. 2-0 to Hearts, and at this rate it could be quite a few more.
Celtic, to their credit did not allow their heads to go down at any point and Aimee Boyle did provide Celtic with their first effort on target. From a wide and very tight angle, she managed to loop the ball towards the back post, and it looked as if Helena Todd in the Hearts goal was beaten, but amazingly she preserved her clean sheet with a brilliant touch over the bar. Celtic almost managing to get themselves back into the game.
After almost getting themselves back into the game, Celtic were dealt with a real blow as Hearts added to their lead with a third goal, through the best player on the park in the first half, Naomi Welch. A long goal kick from Hearts keeper Todd evaded everybody, and Welch found herself 1 on 1 with Bailey, and there was only ever going to be one outcome as she slotted home into the bottom left hand corner for a 3-0 half time lead for the capital side. Celtic had some serious work to do if they were to get back into the game.