Celtic and Glasgow City shared four goals at the Excelsior Stadium
Celtic missed the chance to move five points clear in the SWPL with an entertaining draw against Glasgow City.
Captain Hayley Lauder slammed the reigning champions into an early lead, but a Caitlin Hayes double before half-time was the ideal response for Celtic who were defeated in their Scottish Cup semi-final by Rangers on Saturday.
But Leanne Ross’ serial winners were not down and out and found an equaliser through Charlotte Wardlaw’s composed finish.
Celtic remain top of the table, but Rangers, who host Hearts, can move level on points with a win.
Trailing the league leaders by six points at kick-off, there was a feeling of now or never for the reigning champions to continue to be in consideration for the title.
They were very much in the conversation with a near-perfect start through Lauder's thrash as City capitalised on a slow and sleeping Celtic defence. The captain was in the right place at the right time to pick up the pieces from a well-worked move.
But Celtic soon found their own slick groove. Tash Flint clipped the woodwork as the post once again played a crucial part, with Hayes' hooked effort cannoning between the upright and goalkeeper Lee Gibson before trickling in.
City retreated into their shell a little and appeared vulnerable. Celtic pounced when they were at their weakest.
Lauren Davidson went down under Amy Gallacher's challenge, but the referee was unmoved and Celtic flirted with the idea of knocking it out to allow for treatment to be given.
However, Elena Sadiku's side instead toyed with City before Flint floated a cross onto Hayes' head which she duly buried seconds before the break.
At half-time, Lauder was swapped for Wardlaw and it was a change that proved fruitful. The substitute capitalised on a confused Celtic backline to slam in her first goal for the club in style.
Both sides pushed for the winner, with Hayes once again sending a header goal-bound in added-time but Gibson smothered and ensured a draw. One that does neither side too many favours.
What they said
Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku: “We were fearless, the intensity and the pressure shows how we can address the game. That is something we need to bring into Monday’s game but mostly it is about doing some recovery now.
"The second goal should not happen. I don’t think they had enough to win the game. That is my feeling right now. It comes from a throw-in where our three centre-backs with her all the way and then gives them a gap at the back post so I am very disappointed with that goal.
“I don’t understand about how they can be happy to be 2-2. They should be going to try and win the game. But if this is what they want to do, then this is what they want to do."
Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross: “I am particularly unhappy with the second goal that the referee allowed the game to go on so long when we had a player down.
"I don’t think it was a promising attack because Celtic had possession of the ball in their own half so he was able to stop the game at any point. In saying that, we need to defend the situation a lot better.
“I asked him at half-time but you just get the same response – it is not a head-knock. But the length of time the player was down and the length of the time the ball was in their half, there was time to stop it.
“I was happy with the response and I felt we could have won the game in the end.”
