Spartans Women 2 Aberdeen Women 1 Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup Fourth Round 4th February 2024 – 13:00 Ainslie Park
Aberdeen exited the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup as they went down 2-1 to Spartans in Edinburgh. A second half equaliser from Darcie Miller cancelled out a Robyn McCafferty goal for the hosts but Becky Galbraith won the match late on.
Clinton Lancaster made two changes from the side that lost out narrowly to Rangers last week. Francesca Ogilvie returned along with Adele Lindbaek who made her first start since her January move.
The Dons could have been in front after just two minutes when Eilidh Shore got her head on a corner but Spartans keeper Alicia Yates held the effort. The hosts then had a corner of their own but a good defensive header by Ogilvie prevented Becky Galbraith getting her head on it.
Galbraith threatened twice more in the early stages. First on the counter-attack when she ran down the left but couldn’t beat Jeni Currie in the visiting goal. The second chance was a better one when the Spartans striker shot from the edge of the box, but Currie got down well to hold the effort.
The away side were carrying their own threat in the final third as the lively start to the match continued. Ogilvie burst through the middle before shooting straight at Yates before Hannah Stewart had the ball in the net only to be denied by an offside flag.
Linbaek had looked lively out on the right in the opening stages for Aberdeen and the Norwegian made an opening for herself by cutting inside before shooting over from 18-yards.
The woodwork prevented Aberdeen going in front on twenty-five minutes. A ball through the middle was flicked on by Stewart and Bayley Hutchison held her run well to stay onside before crashing a shot off the post.
It was the hosts turn to go close minutes later as the game continued to swing from end to end. Caley Gibb managed to evade the Dons offside trap before firing in a low shot which hit the base of Currie’s right-hand post.
There was nothing between the sides as the half wore on, but Aberdeen had their goalkeeper to thank for the game being goalless at the interval. A Spartans attack down the Dons right culminated in the ball finding Hannah Robinson right in the middle of the goal. The forward connected with a powerful shot, but Currie produced a brilliant stop when it looked a certain goal.
HT: SPARTANS 0 ABERDEEN 0
The start of the second half was little more scrappy than the end of the first as both sides struggled to retain possession. Stewart and Linbaek both had efforts on goal in the opening minutes, but neither was powerful enough to trouble Yates.
The Dons were dealt a blow just before the hour mark when they were forced into a change as Lois Edwards was forced off injured, she was replaced by Darcie Miller as Keeley Banfield move into the back three.
The hosts took the lead on 64 minutes in somewhat controversial fashion. The referee awarded a corner on the left when there didn’t appear to be an Aberdeen touch on a shot wide. A scramble ensued from the resulting kick and Robyn MCCAFFERTY forced the ball in from close range.
The Dons made a second change in the aftermath of the goal as Hannah Innes came on to replace Eva Thomson. They were forced into another change a short time later when a collision in the box saw Banfield go off injured. She was replaced by Keira MacPherson.
Aberdeen got back on level terms on 77 minutes as one of their substitutes got on the scoresheet. MILLER collected the ball on the left and held off a Spartans defender before curling a brilliant finish into the top corner.
The hosts went back in front on 83 minutes though. Gibb did well to rob Stewart in the middle of the pitch and send the ball forward to Bates on the left, her cross to the back post found GALBRAITH who netted from close range.
There were late bookings for Ogilvie and Gover as the visitors grew frustrated with time running out for them to get back in the game. Deep in stoppage there was a half-chance for an equaliser when Stewart’s ball in almost fell for Ogilvie, but she couldn’t get a header beyond the keeper and the game ended 2-1.
FT: SPARTANS 2 ABERDEEN 1
The Spartans:
1. Alicia Yates 4. Simone McMahon 8. Tegan Browning 9. Ronaigh Douglas 15. Caley Gibb 17. Robyn McCafferty 18. Rebecca Galbraith 21. Hannah Jordan 22. Hannah Robinson 24. Rebecca Foote 26. Summer Laird
Subs:
13.Leyla Gallagher 2. Louise Mason 3. Sarah Clelland 5. Dion McMahon 6. Erin Henderson 10. Amelie Birse 20. Mya Goodman 27. Mya Bates
Aberdeen:
1. Jennifer Currie 2. Lois Edwards (Miller 12′) 7. Eilidh Shore 8. Chloe Gover 9. Hannah Stewart (c) 10. Bayley Hutchison 11. Adele Lindbaek 13. Francesca Ogilvie 15. Madison Finnie 17. Keely Banfield (Macpherson 76′) 18. Eva Thomson (Innes 68′)
Subs:
20. Annalisa McCann (GK) 30. Zoe Maclean (GK) 16. Hannah Innes 19. Amelie Martindale 12. Darcie Miller 21. Emma Lawson 23. Aimee Black 26. Kiera Macpherson
BOOKED: BANFIELD OGILVIE GOVER FINNIE
GOAL: MILLER
