Motherwell 2 – 0 Aberdeen
SWPL 1
K-Park Stadium
Sunday 28th September
The Dons travelled to K-Park in East Kilbride this afternoon to face Motherwell. Manager Scott Booth named 2 changes to the side which lost 3-0 to Rangers last weekend, with Holly Daniel and Alex Clarke replacing Kerry Beattie and Toni Leigh Finnegan.
Report
Motherwell started the contest strongly, seeing the majority of possession in the opening five without causing the Dons defence much bother.
However, the deadlock was broken in the seventh minute by the home side. Emma Ilijoski was dispossessed just outside her own penalty area, allowing forward Carla Boyce to charge into the box and calmly dink the ball over the onrushing Cox and into the back of the Aberdeen net.
Cox was tested again 25 minutes into proceedings after an inswinging corner threatened to drop underneath the cross bar, the Chelsea loannee able to tip it over her goal and behind for another corner.
And that resulting corner allowed Motherwell to double their advantage. The home side picked up the second ball on the right hand wing after Aberdeen failed to clear their lines, allowing Katie Rice to whip a menacing ball into the back post which was headed home by centre half Tegan Browning.
Motherwell could’ve had a third 5 minutes before the break after slick passing between Black and Collins allowed the latter to find space on the edge of the Aberdeen box, but her effort sailed wide of Cox’s right post.
The half concluded with Aberdeen’s longest spell of possession, which allowed them to win a free kick 30 yards away from goal after Mya Christie and Katie Rice clashed heads. Both players were deemed unable to continue, with Aimee Black replacing Mya and Blyth-Clarke on in place of Rice.
After the lengthy delay the free kick was taken which, despite a few cheers from Dons fans thinking it had flown into the net, ended up just over the top of Cameron’s crossbar.
That would conclude a tough first half for Aberdeen, who struggled to get a real foothold into the match.
Half-time 2-0
Scott Booth made one change at the interval to try and inspire a second half fightback, with Eva Thomson making way for Francesca Ogilvie.
Aberdeen’s first goalmouth action of the second period came in the 47th minute from Francesca Ogilvie, who rose highest to meet a header from a wide Dons free kick, her effort unable to trouble Rebecca Cameron.
The next 20 minutes saw Motherwell continue on the front foot, showing promise in and around the Dons penalty box. Interventions from Broadrick and Cox helped keep the Glasgow side from finding their third of the afternoon.
Aberdeen weren’t out yet and continued to fight with just over 15 left. Alex Clarke’s determination down the Motherwell left won a corner for Aberdeen, with Hannah Stewart’s teasing cross agonisingly missing the head of Francesca Ogilvie who had found space inside 12 yards.
Moments later, Motherwell forward Collins tried her luck from long range, her effort from 25 yards out flashing wide of Cox’s goal.
Alex Clarke charged forward again in the 80th minute, this time from Motherwell’s right hand side, and managed to square the ball to Ogilvie who couldn’t keep her effort down from the edge of the area.
Scott Booth rolled the dice again with 9 minutes remaining, bringing on Alix Mendez and Niamh Noble in place of Alex Clarke and Holly Daniel.
The Dons were now in the ascendency and almost pulled one back after Hannah Stewart chased down Motherwell stopper Cameron. The goalkeeper’s clearance struck Stewart inside 6 yards, but the ball refused to drop for our number 9 and Motherwell were able to clear.
Holly McEvoy was introduced with 5 minutes left on the clock, replacing Jessica Broadrick who had picked up a knock earlier in proceedings.
Moments later, Ogilvie threatened the goal again after she cut inside from the right and found space in the corner of the area, her attempt trickled just by Cameron’s left post.
Despite a stronger last 20, the Dons couldn’t find a breakthrough. The referee’s whistle brought an end to a frustrating afternoon for Aberdeen, who struggled in large spells during the game but can take promise from an encouraging end to the match.
Full-time 2-0
STATS
MOTHERWELL – Cameron (GK), Leishman (Inglis 60’), Watson (CP), Ronald, Collins, Rice (Blyth-Clarke 45’+5’), C. Boyce (Hay 88’), Bulloch, Burn, Browning, Black (Brown 81’)
SUBS – Addie, Inglis, Clark, Hay, Denholm, Cairns, Brown, L. Boyce
ABERDEEN – Cox (GK), Broadrick (McEvoy 85’), Galloway, Stewart (CP), Daniel (Mendez 81’), Finnie, Ilijoski, Thomson (Ogilvie 45’), Clarke (Noble 81’), Tobin, Christie (Black 45’+5’)
SUBS – Prawer, Mendez, Noble, Black, Ogilvie, McEvoy
GOALS – Boyce 7’, Browning 26’’
