SWFL Division One Cup Round 2 | Aberdeen 4 Kelty Hearts 0 | Balgownie

Aberdeen progressed to the next round of the SWFL Division One Cup with a 4-0 victory over Kelty Hearts at a bright and blustery Balgownie.

Only goal difference separates the sides at the top of SWFL1 North after the opening two league games and the Fife side gave the Dons their toughest test of the season so far.

Lauren Gordon returned to the Aberdeen starting line-up after sitting out last week’s league win over Westdyke whilst Melia Marquez took over from Anna Blanchard in goals in the home-side’s only other change.

After an even opening few minutes it was Gordon who was the first to threaten with a shot on the turn from 20-yards, which was turned around the post by Jamielee Westwater in the Kelty goal.

Chloe Gover then had a half-chance from the resulting corner which was comfortably saved by the visiting keeper.

Ten-minutes in and a long pass from Kelly Forrest down the right channel found Johan Fraser running in behind the Kelty defence. Fraser carried the ball into the area but the angle was against her and she couldn’t direct her shot passed the goalkeeper.

It was the visitors turn to have an attempt on goal after 12 minutes as they won a free-kick just over the half-way line. The Aberdeen defence dealt with the initial long ball into the box but Kristy

Scott gathered outside the area and fired a deflected effort just wide of Marquez’s goal.

The home-side found their rhythm as the half went on with Gover and Fraser posing a constant threat from wide areas as they looked to get in behind the Kelty defence. A great run on the right by full-back Loren Campbell then won the Dons a corner and Fraser just failed to get on the end of Gover’s in-swinging cross at the front post.

Amy Phillips then linked up well with Fraser who set Gover free in behind the Kelty back-line, the referee blew for an offside just as Dons player prepared to bare down on goal but the visitors defence was breached again just a few minutes later.

There was 31-mnutes on the clock when Fraser’s ball through the Hearts backline found Phillips on the right side of the penalty area. There was no whistle from the referee this time as PHILLIPS timed her run perfectly before gathering the pass and firing a right-foot shot low across the keeper to give the Dons the lead.

The Dons then doubled their lead ten-minutes later as they again got in behind the visitors back-line. A strong tackle in midfield by Eilidh Shore won back possession for the reds and she moved forward before playing the ball through the middle of the Hearts defence. Shore’s pass found the run of GOVER in behind and she sent a composed finish into the net for Aberdeen’s second.

HT: Aberdeen 2 Kelty Hearts 0

The home-side made a change at the half-time interval with Amy Phillips making way for Bayley Hutchison. It didn’t take long for the substitute to make an impact as Aberdeen put the tie beyond the Fife-side in the 53rd minute.

Johan Fraser collected the ball and headed towards the by-line down the right-wing before playing in a great cross to the Kelty penalty area. HUTCHISON had anticipated the cross well and made her way to the front post area where she headed Fraser’s cross into the top corner for 3-0.

The visitors refused to give up and they fought hard to get back into the game with Kerry Finlay doing her best to make a nuisance of herself up-front but it was Aberdeen who put a shine on their win with a fourth in the 85th minute.

Shore and Hutchison linked up in midfield to release the ball into space down the right. Despite it being late in the game Fraser, who had already got through a power of running, chased down Hutchison’s pass. Westwater came rushing out of her area and brought down Fraser just outside the angle of the box.
Chloe GOVER then stepped up and, just like last week against Westdyke, she curled a free-kick high over the keeper and into the top corner of the net for her second of the match. The Dons progress to the next round of the cup by four-goals-to-nil.

FT: Aberdeen 4 Kelty Hearts 0

ABERDEEN
20 Melia MARQUEZ
2 Deirdre O’RIORDAN
3 Loren CAMPBELL
14 Kelly FORREST(c)
5 Carrie DOIG (Sophie BROWN 74mins)
6 Natasha BRUCE
7 Eilidh SHORE
8 Chloe GOVER
9 Lauren GORDON (Sophie JAMIESON 74mins)
12 Johan FRASER
11 Amy PHILLIPS (Bayley HUTCHISON 46mins)

Sub not used: Ann BLANCHARD