Aberdeen Women 3 Motherwell 4 ScottishPower Women’s Premier League Balmoral Stadium Saturday 14 March | 1pm
Aberdeen Women were dealt an early blow to their hopes of avoiding a ninth placed finish on Sunday afternoon, losing 3-4 to Motherwell at home to begin their post-split campaign.
The Dons came from behind to level the contest twice but were undone by cheap goals and defensive errors that left them too big of a mountain to climb.
There were three changes to the team that fell to a 3-0 defeat against Hibernian before the break. Alex Clarke and Naomi McLaughlin dropped to the bench, Maddie Finnie missed out entirely. In came Jess Broadrick, Bridget Galloway, and Kerry Beattie.
The visitors shuffled their pack with Jenna Penman, Bailey Collins, and Kodie Hay dropping out. In came Gill Inglis, Milly Boughton, and Keri Halliday.
The Dons looked bright during the opening exchanges without being able to properly test Thomson in the ‘Well goal. Beattie looked lively, her smart low cross narrowly evaded Hannah Stewart at the back post.
Up the other end Katie Cox was called into action after a smart Motherwell break allowed Townsley to have a crack, the ‘keeper saving low to push behind for a corner.
Cox was called into action on 16’ tipping Halliday’s effort over. Boyce was on the receiving end of the resulting corner, heading wide.
As they often have been this season Aberdeen were the architects of their own downfall after 19 minutes, The Dons caught out trying to play out from the back. Halliday picked up the slack pass and fired over Cox and into the back of the net, a debut goal for the forward. 0-1.
The equaliser came on 30’. Direct from a corner Stewart stepped up, her dead ball attempt enough to squirm beyond Thomson and give her side a precious leveller.
Cox continued to show her quality throughout the opening half, next up was an acrobatic stop at full stretch to deny the away side the advantage.
2-1 Motherwell before the break, another mix up at the back, another goal given away. Broadrick failed to clear her lines and Boyce prodded home from close range into an empty net on 42’ to make it three in three against The Dons this season.
Half-time. Aberdeen 1-2 Motherwell.
The visitors started the second half the stronger of the two and were only denied an early third by a flurry of Dons blocks inside the penalty box.
Aberdeen were level on 55’, Galloway was alert at the back post, sliding in and adding the deftest touch onto Abi Tobin’s cross from deep to convert. 2-2
Within five minutes Galloway had gone from the high of the equaliser to the anguish of giving away a penalty.
The number eight bundled over Boyce inside the area, leaving referee Lewis Bell with a pretty straightforward decision to make.
The forward stepped up and slotted beyond Cox, 3-2.
Scott Booth responded by introducing Aimee Black and Ogilvie: Stewart and Galloway off.
Boyce had a third and her sides fourth on 72’.
A quick break allowed Boyce to break towards goal and striker caught Cox by surprise with an early finish that found the bottom corner with the keeper rooted.
There looked to be a foul on Finnegan in the build up, who caught a nasty whack on the ankle that left the defender writhing in the pain while Boyce charged through on goal.
There was a triple change for Aberdeen with eight minutes remaining.
On came McLaughlin, Erin Carrol and Mia Selbie, the latter making her Aberdeen debut after progressing through the Girls’ Academy. Brodie Greenwood, Eva Thomson, and Beattie came off.
The Dons kept any slim comeback hopes alive with five minutes of regulation time to go, Abi Tobin sending a smart header beyond Thomson, McLaughlin making an instant impact off the bench to provide the assist.
The ‘Well were able to survive the closing stages with The Dons unable to carve out any more chances, and claimed a big win at the foot of the table at Aberdeen’s expense.
Full-time. Aberdeen 3-4 Motherwell.
STATS
Aberdeen: 24. Katie Cox, 4. Jessica Broadrick, 6. Toni Leigh Finnegan, 7. Brodie Greenwood (28. Erin Carrol 82′), , 8. Bridget Galloway (13. Francesca Ogilvie), 9. Hannah Stewart (C) (5. Aimee Black 60′), 17. Emma Ilijoski, 18. Eva Thomson (10. Naomi McLaughlin 82′), 22. Abi Tobin, 26. Mya Christie, 27. Kerry Beattie (30. Mia Selbie 82′)
Substitutes not used: 1 Anna Prawer (GK), 11 Holly Daniel, 14 Holly McEvoy, 20 Alex Clarke,
Motherwell: 25. Emma Thomson, 2. Shannon Leishman, 4. Chelsie Watson, 9. Carla Boyce, 11. Keri Halliday, 14. Gillian Inglis (C), 16. Mason Clark, 20. Sophie Townsley, 21. Mia McArthur, 22. Milly Boughton, 23. Tegan Browning.
Substitutes: 1 Rebecca Cameron, 3 Jenna Penman, 6 Lucy Ronald, 7 Bailley Collins, 19 Hannah Cairns.
GOALS: Stewart 30′ Galloway 55′ Tobin 85′Halliday 19′ Boyce 42′ 60′ 71′
