Forfar Farmington were unlucky to crash out of the Scottish Cup after a 3-1 defeat to Celtic on Sunday.
The side went ahead through Amy Gallacher however goals from Abbi Grant, Heather Richards and Ruesha Littlejohn swung the tie in Celtic’s favour despite Farmington’s determined performance.
Two changes were made to the defeat to Glasgow City, with Caitlin Mitchell and Kayleigh Noble dropping out to be replaced by captain Nicola Davidson and Gemma Collier.
The game started off at a slow pace, with neither side creating anything of note until the 16th minute; Julia Scott’s corner was cleared off the line to Megan McCarthy and she set up Amy Gallacher but the attacker’s effort was held by Cunningham.
It was Forfar who took the lead in the 25th minute and all three involved in the previous chance were involved again. Scott sent a corner in that McCarthy met with a header that was tipped on to the bar by the keeper. The second corner found Gallacher and her header found the top corner via a slight deflection for her third of the season.
Four minutes later Celtic were level when former Farmington winger Abbi Grant hooked home Heather Richards’ corner.
The game was delayed for almost ten minutes before half time after Alana Bruce was taken to hospital for an arm injury following a challenge on Kirsty Howat.
Following her appearance last week, Beth Shillitto travelled with the squad again as well as Erin Cattanach and the former could have had Forfar ahead four minutes in to the second half. A ball forward saw the attacker race in to the box before letting fly however Cunningham did well to push her effort on to the bar and over.
From the corner Gallacher glanced her header wide as Forfar looked to restore their lead. Shortly before the hour mark McCarthy tried her luck from long range with the Celtic keeper managing to hold her strike.
The hosts’ Alex Middleton forced a great save from Fiona McNicoll from a few yards out while Holly Napier stung the palms of Cunningham at the other end with a fierce strike in the 64th minute.
Three minutes later Celtic managed to squeeze themselves in front when Richards prodded past McNicoll while under pressure from the defence.
Grant had another shot blocked by McNicoll in the hosts’ attempts to kill the game before Farmington’s Gallacher had another strike cleared by the defence in the 81st minute.
Forfar tried desperately to find an equaliser but it was the hosts who struck again four minutes from time when sub Ruesha Littlejohn netted ten minutes after coming off the bench.
The result was harsh on a Forfar side who had performed well but they can take the positives in to next week’s Premier League clash with Rangers at Station Park.
Celtic: Megan Cunningham, Ellis Dalgleish, Natalie Ross, Courtney Whyte, Suzanne Mulvey, Kirsty Howat (Joanne Paton 73), Kelly Clark, Alex Middleton (Colette Cavanagh 87), Georgie Rafferty (Kerry Montgomery 60), Heather Richards (Ruesha Littlejohn 75), Abbi Grant (Danielle Connolly 87)
Subs not used: Cara McBrearty, Kiera Gibson
Goals: Abbi Grant (29), Heather Richards (67), Ruesha Littlejohn (86)
Forfar Farmington: Fiona McNicoll, Ann Taylor, Alana Bruce (Beth Shillitto 39), Gemma Collier, Megan McCarthy, Jade McLaren, Holly Napier, Nicola Davidson, Amy Gallacher, Julia Scott, Louise Magilton (Erin Cattanach 71)
Sub not used: Robyn Smith
Goals: Amy Gallacher (25)