Goals from Caitlin Hayes and Natasha Flint gave Celtic all three points over reigning SWPL champions Glasgow City at Petershill Park.
City made it a nervy finale after Carlee Giammona had pulled a goal back for City in the 90th minute but Celtic stood firm in the face of their late pressure.
The win enabled Elena Sadiku’s side to stay within a point of Rangers, who left it late to beat Hibs in the earlier kick-off.
It also a second successive statement win for the Swede after beating Jo Potter’s side in the league outing immediately prior to this one.
Glasgow City now trail league leaders Rangers by four points and Celtic by three with eight remaining SWPL games to go. Judging by last season’s finale, however, few would write off Leanne Ross’ side.
It was a fairly scrappy opening period with both teams tentative at times.
Celtic slowly started to edge proceedings although there was an uncharacteristically wild effort from Flint as she lashed at an effort from the edge of the box and drove her effort miles wide.
Shortly after she dragged an effort narrowly wide as Celtic slowly started to exert their influence on the game.
In Fiona Brown, City had menace in the final third but too often her deliveries into the box were allowed to fall at a green-and-white shirt.
Hayes opened the scoring seven minutes before the break when she header Lucy Ashworth-Clifford’s corner past Lee Gibson.
Celtic turned the screw after the break with Flint netting the second of the afternoon for the visitors. A long, low ball from Amy Gallacher split the City defence with Flint outmuscling Kenzie Weir to get on the end of it before firing past the exposed Gibson.
City’s afternoon might have got worse again but for Gibson bailing them out. A poor clearance fell kindly to Gallacher whose effort had to be tipped over by the Scotland internationalist.
Celtic, though, invited trouble with a playing out from the back that put them on the backfoot at times.
Hayley Lauder tried her luck with a free-kick that arched just over Daugherty’s bar as City looked to force a way back into the game.
They found it when Giammona netted on the cusp of the regulation 90 minutes. With five minutes of added time, it set up a frantic finale as City tried valiantly to claim a late leveller.
Celtic held out to claim which could be a highly significant SWPL win.
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