Celtic took a significant step towards the Champions League group stages with a narrow first-leg win over Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava in their play-off tie.

Murphy Agnew's clever turn and finish in the fifth minute proved to be the only goal of the game, but the margin of victory should have been greater for Elena Sadiku's side.

Caitlin Hayes went close with several headers from set-pieces in the first half, while Lucy Ashworth-Clifford scuffed wide with the goal at her mercy.

The hosts dominated possession in the opening 45 minutes and carved out chances at regular intervals, and that pattern continued after the break.

Ashworth-Clifford saw a curling shot clip the outside of the post, Emma Lawton headed wide having got the better of her marker, and Kit Loferski was denied by Vorskla keeper Kateryna Samson when clean through on goal.

At the other end, Kelsey Daugherty made a couple of sharp saves, and Iryna Koriash inexplicably missed an open goal from three yards out after some clever build-up play down the left-hand side.

Celtic were deserved winners, but those chances were a reminder of the threat Vorskla do pose, and Celtic will need to play well again in Thursday's second leg - also being played in Airdrie - if they are to progress to the group stages for the first time.

Celtic head coach Elena Sadiku: "It was a solid performance. We created a lot of chances, we should have scored four at least but I'm very confident with how we hurt them.

"We defended really well. They had a clear chance they probably should have scored on but overall it should have ended 5-1.

"Now it's just about recovering and focusing on the second game."