Dons defeated in rain soaked Dundee

08/10/2023 | Dundee Utd Women 3 Aberdeen Women 2 | Scottish Power Women’s Premier League | Foundation Park, Dundee | Kick-off, 4pm

Aberdeen were beaten 3-2 by Dundee United in the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League at a rainy Foundation Park. Goals from Bayley Hutchison and Eilidh Shore twice pulled the Dons back into the game but strikes from Cassie Cowper, Johan Fraser and Rachel Todd gave United the points.

Clinton Lancaster rang the changes after last week’s Sky Sports Cup defeat to Hibernian with Shore, Madison Finnie and Hutchison all returning to the starting line-up. The hosts had emergency loan goalkeeper Nina Wilson between the sticks as former Dons Fraser and Natasha Bruce both started.

The visitors almost made the perfect start with their first attempt on goal after three minutes. Hannah Innes picked up on the angle of the box 20-yards out and fired in a dipping shot which clattered back off the crossbar.

The Dons tested the keeper on 13 minutes when Hutchison’s cross was glanced towards goal by Hannah Stewart but Wilson gathered it at the second attempt.

It was the hosts that went in front with 18 minutes on the clock with their first attempt on goal. Broadrick was penalised for a foul on Todd right on the edge of the penalty box. Cassie COWPER stepped up and curled the resulting free-kick into the top corner of Annalisa McCann’s net.

Aberdeen looked a bit shaken by the goal and it took them a while to regain their composure. They hit the crossbar for the second on 31minutes as they finally looked like drawing level. Eva Thomson was fouled 25-yards from goal and Chloe Gover took the kick and her curling effort crashed off the bar with Ogilvie and Thomson both failing to capitalize on the rebound.

Ogilvie then went down the left and her cut-back found Hutchison in the box but she flashed her first time effort over the bar. Then hosts then had two great chances to double their lead when Leah Sidey fired wide from a tight angle before Robyn Smith mis-kicked in front of goal.

The rain started coming down heavier as half-time approached and both sides looked happy for the interval.

HT: DUNDEE UNITED 1 ABERDEEN 0

The conditions worsened considerably over the interval and the players were greeted by a torrential downpour as they emerged for the second half.

Aberdeen came out on the front foot as they looked to get back into the game and they could’ve scored in the opening minutes of the half when Shore fired over the bar from an Innes cut back.

It was 1-1 on 51 minutes as Aberdeen got their reward for a good start to the half. HUTCHISON’s powerful run into the box saw her cut inside and curl a shot beyond Wilson.

The hosts regained their lead within four minutes as a former Don came back to haunt her old side. FRASER picked up the ball wide on the right before sending a curling effort over McCann and into the far post.

Aberdeen came close to a second equaliser when Gover’s long-range effort looked like it had deceived Wilson but the keeper clawed the ball out with Dons substitute Darcie Miller lurking just seconds after coming on.

The next goal went to the hosts as they extended their lead on the hour. A great ball over the top by Fraser found Smith and she squared for Rachel TODD to tap in from close range.

The Dons went close to a quick response when Hutchison found Miller with a great through ball but the substitute’s powerful effort was well parried by Wilson. The Dons made another change when Aimee Black replaced Innes for the remaining 20 minutes.

Aberdeen hit the bar for the third time as the game neared it’s final ten minutes. Miller fed Hutchison down the right and she fizzed the ball across goal to find Gover sliding in at the back post but her shot thumped off the bar and rebounded to safety.

Stewart and Shore both had chances with headers, but Stewart flicked hers wide whilst Shore’s went over the bar.

The visitors pressure eventually paid off with eight minutes remaining. Black found SHORE running into the box and her low shot made its way through a forest of legs and into the bottom corner.

There were loud claims for a penalty in the final minute when Hutchison went through on goal and went down in the box, but the ref waved away the appeals. Hanssen picked up a booking in the aftermath as the visitors complained to the officials.

The ball was in the net deep in stoppage-time but the assistants flag prevented the Dons from getting a late equaliser. Hutchison’s free-kick ricocheted in the area and Shore’s shot was brilliantly stopped by Wilson. Stewart knocked in the rebound, but the flag was up for offside and United held on for the win.

Dons manager Lancaster was shown a red card after the final whistle as the visitors continued to complain about the lack of a penalty late on.

FT: DUNDEE UNITED 3 ABERDEEN 2

Clinton Lancaster: “I thought we played well when we had the ball and moved it about well but we lost three sloppy goals and never took our chances. We created enough chances in the game and just never took them which is frustrating. The players just need to pick themselves up now for next week.”

Dundee Utd 3 |

Cowper, 19

Fraser, 55

Todd, 61

Aberdeen 2 |

Hutchison, 51

Shore, 82

Dundee Utd:

44. Nina Murphy 3. Katie Frew 5. Nicola Jamieson 6. Natasha Bruce 7. Jo Fraser 9. Robyn Smith 10. Georgie Robb 12. Rachel Todd (C) 15. Leah Sidey 17. Cassie Cowper 20. Niamh Noble

Subs:

11. Nyla Murphy 14. Abbie Cusack 16. Summer Christie 18. Olivia Hurrell 21. Amy Taylor 22. Maya Knight 25. Kiera Chuter

Aberdeen:

20. Annalisa McCann 4. Jessica Broadrick 7. Eildh Shore 8. Chloe Gover 9. Hannah Stewart 10. Bayley Hutchison 13. Francescsa Ogilvie 15. Madison Finnie 16. Hannah Innes (Black, 72) 18. Eva Thomson (Miller, 55) 24. Nadine Hanssen (C)