St Johnstone 1 Aberdeen Women 4 Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup Quarter-final Riverside Stadium 9 March | 1300
Aberdeen had the chance to book their ticket to Hampden Park as they faced off against St Johnstone in the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup Quarter Final on Sunday afternoon.
The SWPL2 side came into the tie off the back of a 2-1 win over league leaders Hamilton, whilst the Dons looked to build upon their home victory against The Spartans.
Scott Booth only made one change from last weekend’s affair as Holly McEvoy came into the midfield for the cup-tied Jessica Broadrick, meaning Francesca Ogilvie filled in at wingback, Alix Mendez moving into the middle.
Aberdeen came from behind to secure a dominant 4-1 victory over St Johnstone at Riverside Stadium.
The home side took the lead in the 25th minute when Evie McLean capitalized on an Aberdeen error. However, the Dons quickly responded, with Eva Thomson’s long-range effort hitting the crossbar before Holly McEvoy headed in the rebound to equalize on the half-hour mark.
The Dons took control in the second half, going ahead in the 53rd minute through Toni Leigh Finnegan, who tapped in from close range. Just four minutes later, substitute Kerry Beattie extended the lead with a composed finish. Finnegan sealed the win with her second goal late on, capping off a well-worked team move.
Report:
Aberdeen kicked things off at Riverside Stadium but it was the home side who managed the first shot on target as Steffi Simon found space in the box to turn and shoot, forcing an early save out of McCann.
After the early scare, Aberdeen began to knock the ball about rather nicely, looking to build up from the back instead of opting for the long ball.
Maddison Finnie was close to opening the scoring as she was the recipient of an Aimee Black free-kick, striking low and hard, forcing a deflection and a corner as a result.
Some smooth build up play would see Kraft play a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Ogilvie whose ball across the box was begging for the touch of a forward. Cochran recognised the danger and did well to scramble the cross to safety on the quarter of an hour mark.
The Saints nearly saw themselves in front after Erinn McCafferty played through Rachel Howie who had time in the box to pick her spot. The bounce of the ball allowed McCann to rush forward to close things down, forcing the forward to take the early shot which made its way over the bar. A real let off for the Dons.
Just a minute later the home side would take the lead as Aimee Black was dispossessed on the edge of her box by Evie McLean who drove into the penalty area before comfortably slotting down to McCann’s right to give the visitors something to think about with 20 to go in the first period.
Aberdeen wasn’t found wanting as they immediately went up the other way in a beautifully worked move which saw McEvoy find herself on the right wing to square the ball to Kraft who flung herself at the ball, but her attempt was blocked on the goal line.
The Dons would soon find their leveller on the half hour mark. Eva Thomson’s long-range effort would smack the crossbar and find its way into the path of the 4ft 11 McEvoy who reacted quickest to the loose ball and headed in the equaliser.
Not much would occur for the remainder of the first half, setting up an intriguing second 45.
Half Time St Johnstone 1-1 Aberdeen
Scott Booth would make a halftime substitution as Kerry Beattie would enter the fold in place of Emily Kraft.
The halftime talking to awoke the Dons as they immediately looked more assured both in and out of possession.
Toni Leigh Finnegan would put her side ahead for the first time in the 53rd minute. Defender Aimee Black would herself up field and square the ball across goal to a queue of players waiting to tap in but it was the January signing who was closest to poke home into the empty net.
The Dons would add another just 4 minutes later in a move from back to front which was it interrupted by a single touch from the home side. McCann’s pass would find the feet of Ogilvie who bombed forwards to play a ball in behind the Saints defence. Substitute Kerry Beattie would latch onto the pass after expertly holding her run to keep onside before coolly netting to extend the lead and spare any blushes.
It was cruise control from them on as St Johnstone would fall away and the Dons would only increase the pressure. A flurry of chances could’ve put Aberdeen 5-1 up as Maddison Finnie would nod just over before club captain Hannah Stewart would find the back of the net but was deemed offside. Kerry Beattie nearly found her 2nd of the afternoon forcing a good save from Cochran to keep the scoreline respectable.
The Saints’ only real chance of the 2nd half would come from a quality long ranged strike from Rachel Howie which cannoned off the crossbar.
Scott Booth would earn himself a booking after protesting an offside call on 70 minutes, showing real passion to keep spurring his side on despite the 2-goal advantage at the time. The gaffer then turned to his bench making a triple substitution which saw Elder, Innes, and Gover come on for Ogilvie, McEvoy, and Black.
Finnegan would score the Dons’ fourth and final goal on the day, completing her brace with a composed ball that rolled round the keeper and tapped in after some quality build-up play, which mirrored Beattie’s go-ahead.
A lovely moment for Laura Holden just before fulltime as she took to the field for Finnegan for her first minutes since September last season.
Full Time St Johnstone 1-4 Aberdeen
STATS:
Aberdeen: McCann, Mendez, Stewart, Ogilvie (Elder 72’), McEvoy (Innes 72’), Finnie, Ilijoski, Thomson, Kraft (Beattie 45’), Black (Gover 72’), Finnegan (Holden 90’)
Unused Subs: Noble, Miller
Goals: McEvoy 31, Beattie 60’ Finnegan 55’, 84’
St Johnstone: Cochran, Maclver (Gibson 80’), McLean, Simson, Hurrell, Irvine, Smith (Telford 88’), McMillan, Malcolm, McCafferty, Howie
Unused Subs: Townsley, Paterson
Goals: McLean 25’
