Glasgow City 6 Aberdeen Women 1 ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 1 Petershill Park Sunday 12 January | 1PM
A nightmare opening 15 combined with a couple second half goals meant it was a long afternoon for Aberdeen Women at Petershill Park on Sunday, falling to a 6-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders Glasgow City.
Four nil down at the break after a flurry of early goals, Nicola Jameison got a late goal for the Dons, merely a consolation on a difficult afternoon.
Making their return after a layoff that was set in by both weather-related call-offs and the planned winter break, Scott Booth named Ellie May Cowie in the starting XI just a day after she signed for the Dons on his return to the club where he enjoyed so much success.
Emily Kraft led the line, with Francesca Ogilvie and the captain, Hannah Stewart supporting the one-time Irish international alongside Cowie. Phoebe Murray and Natasha Bruce made up the bulk of the midfield, the backline comprising of Niamh Noble, Jameison, Chloe Gover and Aimee Black, with Megan Sidey in goal for Aberdeen in Glasgow.
New signing Emma Ilioski missed out late on for precautionary reasons.
The Dons had a half chance early on at Petershill after Murray done well to win the ball in the middle of the park, eventually setting up Cowie to put an early cross into the box which was eventually marshalled away to safety.
Unfortunately however it was the hosts who opened the scoring. Aberdeen undone by a ball through the middle, Sidey was caught in two minds whether to come or go to meet the onrushing Kozlova who lifted the ball over the former Dundee United stopper and into the back of the net after just six minutes.
Things went from bad to worse early on, Kozlova adding a second just four minutes later after rounding Sidey and remaining composed to find the gap amongst the Dons bodies that had began to gather around the goalmouth.
In what was becoming a disastrous first 15 minutes for Aberdeen, Lovera tapped in at the back-post soon after to put the hosts three goals to the good. Wrobel made it four nil not long after to wrap up a miserable first period of the half for Aberdeen in Glasgow.
Thankfully the Dons were able to settle things down and began to look a bit calmer after the fourth. Sidey made a good save near the half hour mark to deny Lovera from low down, Whelan fired over the bar not long after.
In what was probably good news for a wounded Aberdeen side, the game had become quite a flat affair. City looked certain to add a fifth before the break however, they were only to be denied by an incredible reaction save from Sidey from close range.
Half-time. Glasgow City 4-0 Aberdeen.
There was one Aberdeen change at the break, Eva Thomson introduced in midfield in place of Murray.
Forrest, who was introduced at half-time alongside Thomson added a fifth for City five minutes into the second 45, slotting beyond Sidey to extend her sides advantage.
Kozlova was denied a hat-trick and a sixth goal for Glasgow City by Sidey, who once again made an impressive stop from close range.
Booth made a double change just after the hour mark, Holly McEvoy and Hannah Innes introduced, they replaced Kraft and Stewart.
Lovera managed to add the sixth just before the 75-minute mark, Her header too powerful for Sidey who did well to get a hand to it – the keeper taking a knock in a nasty collision minutes prior.
The Dons goal came from the best part of 35-yards through Jameison, her pot shot fumbled by Easdon and into the net.
With five to go, Grace Elder replaced Ogilvie.
Aberdeen now turn their attention to another trip down the road, they take on Celtic at New Douglas Park on Wednesday night.
Full-time, Glasgow City 6-1 Aberdeen Women.
Aberdeen: 1. Megan Sidey, 3. Niamh Noble, 4. Natasha Bruce, 5. Nicola Jameison, 7. Phoebe Murray (Thomson 45′), 8. Chloe Gover, 9. Hannah Stewart (C) (Innes 66′), 13. Francesca Ogilvie (Elder 85′), 19. Emily Kraft (McEvoy 66′), 22. Ellie May Cowie, 23. Aimee Black
Substitutes: 20. Annalisa McCann (GK), 2. Lois Edwards, 11. Keira Macpherson, 12. Johan Fraser, 14. Holly McEvoy, 16. Hannah Innes, 18. Eva Thomson, 21. Miriam MacLean, 25. Grace Elder
GOAL: Jameison
Glasgow City: 35. Ava Easdon, 3. Amy Muir, 4. Hayley Lauder (C), 8. Katie Lockwood, 9. Brenna Lovera, 10. Natalia Wrobel, 15. Aleigh Gambone, 17. Lisa Evans. 18. Kimberly Smit, 19. Nicole Kozlova, 22. Samantha Van Diemen
Substitutes: 29. Lee Gibson, 5. Claire Walsh, 6. Jo Love, 7. Maddie Fulton, 11. Emily Whelan, 12. Wilma Forsblom, 14. Amy Anderson, 23. Megan Foley, 24. Lisa Forrest
