Dons dig deep to win in Montrose

Montrose 2 Aberdeen Women 3 ScottishPower Women’s Premier League Links Park 17th April 2024

Aberdeen picked up their second win in a matter of days as they beat a plucky Montrose side 3-2 at Links Park. The Dons were two up through Hannah Innes and Bayley Hutchison goals before Jade MacLaren pulled one back before half-time. Hutchison grabbed a third after the break before Louise Brown made it interesting, but the visitors held out for a deserved win.

There were changes to the Dons side that started the 3-2 win over Hamilton at the weekend. Keeley Banfield, Hannah Innes and Phoebe Murray all coming in from the start in place of Jessica Broadrick, Adele Lindbaek and Darcie Miller.

The visitors survived an early scare as Montrose passed up a great opportunity to take the lead in the opening minutes. Tammy Harkin stabbed the ball wide from close range with Jen Currie in goal doing well to narrow the shooting angle.

Montrose made a strong start to the game and Harkin again had an effort on goal. This one came from much further out, but Currie made a diving save to her right to pluck the ball out the air.

It took the Dons a while to settle into the match but when they did, they started to move the ball well. Their first sight of goal came via a speculative Innes shot which drifted well wide.

That should have acted as a warning for the hosts as the same player found the target to give Aberdeen a 27th minute lead. They went from back to front as they passed their way through the home side. When the ball eventually found it’s way to INNES on the left, she took a touch to settle herself before cracking home a brilliant 25-yard drive.

It was 2-0 little more than three minutes later. Some great play by Murray, who had started the match brilliantly, forced the ball into the box for HUTCHISON who made no mistake from close range as she prodded the ball beyond Lauren Perry in the home goal.

The hosts pulled a goal back on 38th minutes. A corner from the Dons right was swung into the box and Jade MCLAREN knocked the ball in from close range.

The half played out without any further goal-mouth incident as the visitors took a slender 2-1 lead into the break.

HT: MONTROSE 1 ABERDEEN 2

There was a bright start to the second forty-five from Aberdeen. Hutchison has already had one strong run into the box before being brilliantly sent through on goal by Murray. The striker’s shot flew just wide of the back post.

Aberdeen had their goalkeeper to thank for maintaining their lead five minutes into the half. Louise Brown made a powerful run from midfield and fired a shot which was destined for the corner of the net until Currie brilliantly tipped it round the post.

The Dons restored their two-goal advantage on 55 minutes. A superb through-ball by Stewart sent HUTCHISON through on goal and the striker clipped the ball past Perry for her second of the game.

It looked like the visitors were going to run away with the match as Thomson burst clear and fired a shot straight at Perry. The hosts weren’t going away though as they pulled a goal back on 58 minutes. BROWN who had gone close earlier collected on the right and despite Currie getting her fingertips to the shot, it drop in at the back post.

There was almost an instant response from Aberdeen as Ogilvie played Hutchison down the wing and her cross was nearly turned in at the back post by Thomson. That was Thomson’s last involvement in the match as she made way for Lindbaek on 63 minutes.

Innes almost got her second of the game minutes later. Stewart sent the wing-back away down the left and Innes cut back on her right foot before shooting narrowly wide of the near post.

Maclaren passed up a great opportunity for the hosts when she shot straight at Currie. At the other end Stewart played in Innes but her looping effort went wide of the back post.

Aberdeen made a second change with ten minutes remaining as Jess Broadrick replaced Innes on the right.

It was the Dons that looked most likely to score as the game entered the final five minutes. Shore came within a whisker of sending Hutchison clean through before Lindbaek showed a quick turn of pace before firing over from 25-yards.

Lindbaek was causing the hosts problems every time she got on the ball. First setting up Murray for a shot which was blocked and then striking an effort herself which Perry managed to gather.

The visitors survived a late onslaught from the hosts but they held on for a deserved three points.