Dundee United 1 Aberdeen Women 5 Scottish Power Women’s Premier League Foundation Park 21st April 2024
Aberdeen came from a goal down at half-time to beat Dundee United 5-1 at Foundation Park. The hosts led after Megan Steedman scored a stunning opener. The Dons fought back after Eilidh Shore equalised, Hannah Stewart put them in front before Bayley Hutchison scored another hat-trick to seal a third consecutive win.
There were two changes to the Dons side who beat Montrose in midweek as Clint Lancaster looked to freshen up the team as they played their third game in eight days. Lois Edwards and Adele Lindbaek came in for Hannah Innes and Keeley Banfield. It would have been three changes, but the unfortunate Darcie Miller had to be pulled from the starting line-up after picking up an injury in the warm-up. The home side had former Aberdeen midfielder Natasha Bruce in their midfield and ex-Don Jo Fraser was amongst their substitutes.
United goalkeeper Megan Sidey prevented the Dons taking a two-minute lead. Good work by Lindbaek on the right ended in her finding Hannah Stewart with a neat backheel but the skipper’s goal-bound effort was brilliantly tipped over the bar.
Lindbaek could’ve had an early goal herself when Bayley Hutchison played her in on the right of the box. The Norwegian winger’s shot from the angle flew wide of the keeper’s left-hand post.
The hosts settled after those earlier chances and the opening twenty minutes became fairly even. Chances were limited and when one came for the visitors it came in unusual fashion. There didn’t appear much danger when Chloe Gover picked up 35-yards out, but her long-range effort deceived the United keeper and came crashing back off the bar.
It was United’s turn to hit the woodwork minutes later. A corner from the right was swung into the box and Eilidh Shore’s mis-timed clearance clipped the top of the crossbar. Francesca Ogilvie then passed up a great chance as she cut in from the left before firing wide of the post.
The home side went in front three minutes before half-time. A long pass up the Aberdeen left saw Morgan STEEDMAN get the better of Gover before sending a spectacular shot over Jennifer Currie and into the net.
Aberdeen almost got an instant equaliser when Lindbaek sprayed a great ball across the field to Stewart. The captain did well to control the ball but she couldn’t keep her shot under the crossbar and the hosts went in ahead at the break.
HT: DUNDEE UNITED 1 ABERDEEN 0
There was a change at the interval for Aberdeen as Lindbaek came off and was replaced by Hannah Innes.
There was an early scare for the visitors as the hosts were screaming for a penalty after a handball in the box. Ogilvie jumped in to challenge for a bouncing ball which appeared to strike the Aberdeen player’s arm, but the referee disagreed.
The Dons drew level on 56 mins. A free-kick was played in from the right and SHORE rose highest to sending a looping header over the keeper and into the net for her fourth goal of the season.
It was two goals in two minutes as the visitors went in front after 58 minutes. STEWART drove forward down the left before cutting in on her right foot and curling a brilliant finish into the top corner.
Currie was the hero at the other end as United looked for a quick response. A ball across the face of the goal found substitute Megan Robb all on her own but the Dons keeper pulled off a brilliant save to keep her side in front.
Aberdeen made a second change on the hour as Thomson made way for Banfield just before they extended their lead. A good inter-change of passes on edge of the box between Ogilvie and Stewart ended with the ball finding HUTCHISON who finished passed Sidey.
It was 4-1 two minutes later as the away side hit a quick-fire double for the second time in the game. Substitute Innes played a great ball up the left to HUTCHISON who curled home a brilliant finish from just outside the box.
The Dons made a third substitution as goal-scorer Shore was replaced by Jessica Broadrick with fifteen minutes remaining.
Aberdeen made it five with ten minutes remaining and it was a familiar name on the score sheet. HUTCHISON was released through the middle by a short back pass and she rounded the keeper before rolling the ball home for her hat-trick.
Hutchison was rewarded following her goal with a seat on the bench for the remaining minutes as she was replaced by Aimee Black as the visitors saw out the game to take a comfortable three points.
FT: DUNDEE UNITED 1 ABERDEEN 5
STATS
Aberdeen: Currie, Edwards, Shore (Broadrick 75′), Gover, Stewart, Hutchison (Black 81′), Lindbaek (Innes 46′), Ogilive, Finnie, Thomson (Banfield 64′), Murray
Subs not used: McCann, Maclean, Martindale
Dundee United: Sidey, Wilson, Bruce, Smith, Robb, Todd, Steedman, Cusack, Noble, Taylor, Greenwood
Subs: Frew, Fraser, Robb, Sidey, Knight, Davies
