AFC Women 5 | Collins 3′; Stewart 34′, 45+1′; Shore 75′; (O.G.) 78′
Glasgow Women 1 | Farrel 90′
Full Time | Balmoral Stadium | Park’s Motor Group SWPL1 | Kick off – 8pm | HT 3-0
MATCH REPORT by Mark Gordon
Aberdeen picked up three points against already relegated Glasgow Women with a 5-1 win at the Balmoral Stadium. A first half double from Hannah Stewart added to Bailley Collins’ opener to put the hosts in at half-time 3-0 ahead. A second half strike from Eilidh Shore and an own-goal gave Aberdeen a 5-0 lead before Caitlin Farrel netted a stoppage time consolation.
The only change to the starting line-up from the defeat to Motherwell at the weekend was Mya Christie coming into the side to replace Francesca Ogilvie who took a place amongst the substitutes.
Aberdeen got off to the perfect start with a goal after just three minutes. Bailley COLLINS cut into the box on the right and fired a powerful shot into the bottom near-post corner.
A cross from Millie Urquhart on the right saw Eilidh Shore go close with a header as the Dons went to close to another early goal. Hannah Stewart then stabbed a Bayley Hutchison cut-back just wide.
The hosts were playing some great stuff and they continued to dominate the bottom side. Shore fired a 25-yard effort in after a neat turn in the middle of the pitch but Glasgow keeper Shannon Burgon dealt with it at the second attempt.
Some great build-up play brought about the next chance as the Reds continued to probe for a second goal. Hutchison, Urquhart and Campbell were all involved with the latter finding Stewart in the box. The forward controlled the ball in before firing wide of the target.
Shore had another effort saved by the keeper before Stewart again went close after Urquhart had an effort saved by Burgon. Bailley Collins then went close to her second of the game with a long-range effort which went just wide.
The wait for a second goal came to an end on 34-minutes as Stewart grabbed the second. Mya Christie forced a corner with a powerful shot from the edge of the box. The resulting corner was kept in at the back post by Jess Broadrick and STEWART was on hand to fire home from close range.
The goal was no more than Aberdeen deserved from a dominant first half and they almost made it three minutes later when Shore fired an Urquhart cross over from close range. Madison Finnie then fancied her chances of getting on the scoresheet as she fired a 35-yard drive just over the bar.
It was three just before the interval as STEWART again found the target from close range having seen her first attempt blocked. It was the forward’s sixth goal of the campaign and second of the evening.
HT: AFC WOMEN 3 GLASGOW WOMEN 0
The three-goal cushion allowed Gav Levey to make some changes at the break. Elena Karkkainen replaced goalscorer Stewart whilst Eva Thomson came on for captain Loren Campbell. The change in personnel saw a change in position for Christie who moved to right-back with Eilidh Shore taking on Loren Campbell captain’s armband.
It was Shore who had the first chance of the half as she found herself unmarked in the box in the opening minute but pulled her shot wide. Broadrick then went even closer as her shot from the angle of the penalty area came back off the visitors’ crossbar.
A brilliant through ball by Thomson then found Shore in the box but the stand-in captain was twice denied by Burgon in the Glasgow goal. Karkkainen was the next to test the goalkeeper as her 20-yard effort was well held by the keeper.
Ogilvie and Gover then replaced Collins and Urquhart for the hosts as Glasgow got a rare attempt on goal with a long distance free-kick which was easily dealt with by India Marwaha.
Aberdeen maintained their threat going forward as they went close twice in as many minutes through two of their substitutes. Ogilvie was unlucky not to get a shot away when she ran on to a great Karkkainen ball up field before Thomson almost got on the end of Shore square ball before seeing her effort blocked away for a corner.
It was 4-0 with fifteen minutes remaining as the hosts extended their lead in fortuitous fashion when a clearance right in front of goal rebounded off SHORE and into the net. A fifth followed a short while later as the unfortunate Jade WILSON headed into her own net.
A late injury for Madison Finnie saw her replaced by Aimee Black for the remaining few minutes. The visitors grabbed a late consolation as substitute Caitlin FARREL found the net with a long-range effort.
FT: AFC WOMEN 5 GLASGOW WOMEN 1
TEAMS
AFC Women | Marwaha, Campbell (C) (Karkkainen 46′), Urquhart (Ogilvie 67′), Broadrick, Paterson, Shore, Hutchison, Collins (Gover 67′), Stewart (Thomson 46′), Christie & Finnie (Black 87′)
Substitutes not used | Sopel
Glasgow Women | Burgon, King, Barghati, McConnell, Scott, Craig, Gallagher, Wilson, McGuire, Campbell & Lyle
Substitutes | Duff, Torrance & Farrel
LEAGUE TABLE
TABLES | Here’s the updated @parksmotorgroup SWPL table ⬇@GlasgowCityFC move 5⃣ points clear at the top 🏆@spartansfcwomen move above @MotherwellWomen ⬆@accieswfc close the gap on @DundeeUnitedFCW to 2⃣ points in the battle to avoid the relegation play-off 🤏 pic.twitter.com/xc3Zq0c466
— Scottish Women’s Premier League (@SWPL) May 3, 2023
