AFC Women 0 |
Motherwell Women 2 | Burchill 45+1′; Boyes 59′
FT | Balmoral Stadium | Park’s Motor Group SWPL1 | Kick off – 1pm | HT 0-1
MATCH REPORT by MARK GORDON
Aberdeen went down by two goals to nil to Motherwell at a wet Balmoral Stadium. Goals either side of half time by Tiree Birchill and Louisa Boyes gave the visitors the victory whilst an outstanding performance at the other end from visiting keeper Emily Mutch prevented the Dons taking anything from the game.
There were four changes to the starting line-up that beat Dundee United last time out. Bailley Collins, Hannah Stewart and Francesca Ogilvie all returned in place of Mya Christie, Eva Thomson and Nadine Hanssen. The final change saw Celtic loanee India Marwaha make her Dons debut in goal as she took over the gloves from Annalisa McCann.
The visitors started the game more brightly as they forced a few early corners without testing debutant Marwaha in the Dons goal. Katie Rice was the first to go close as she curled a 25-yard shot just wide of the post.
Aberdeen burst into life on 17 minutes as they went close to taking the lead three times in five minutes. Stewart and Shore linked up to find Collins in the centre of the park and she released Urquhart down the right. The Scotland youth play charged down the right before sending a powerful shot off the under-side of the Motherwell crossbar.
Urquhart was again involved just a minute later when her run a cross broke to the edge of the box for Bayley Hutchison but the striker couldn’t keep her powerful shot on target. The Dons best chance came on 21 minutes, good build-up play involving Shore and Stewart set up Hutchison. The striker found Bailley Collins in space on right in the middle of goal but her powerful shot was tipped over by ‘Well keeper Emily Mutch.
The Dons continued to press and created another chance as Urquhart was gain involved. Donna Paterson set the wide player on her way with a great ball down the right and Urquhart in turn played in Francesca Ogilvie on the left but her shot flew just over.
The away side forced their way back into the match as half-time approached and they took the lead in stoppage time at the end of the half. Tiree BIRCHILL picked up 25-yards from goal and sent an unstoppable effort in off the crossbar to give her side the lead at the break.
HT: ABERDEEN 0 MOTHERWELL 1
Aberdeen were quick out of the traps in the second period as they went close in the opening minutes of the half. Ogilvie’s strong running took into shooting range on the left but her effort was tipped over by Mutch.
Hutchison then had a chance when the ball broke to her inside the penalty area but her low shot was well smothered by the Motherwell keeper. It was the visitors who struck first in the half, despite Aberdeen’s strong start. Louisa BOYES curling 20-yard effort dropped over Marwaha and into the net to double the Motherwell lead.
Mya Christie came off the bench in place of Ogilvie as Aberdeen looked for a way back into the match. Hannah Stewart had a chance for an immediate response to going two down but her shot from outside the area was well over the bar.
The Motherwell keeper Mutch was having a great game as she twice denied the Dons a way back into the game. Bailley Collins powerful shot was tipped over and from the resulting corner the keeper did well to keep out a Donna Paterson shot.
Paterson was forced off with an injury and was replaced by Chloe Gover which required a minor reshuffle to the Dons backline with Broadrick moving to centre-half and the substitute slotting in a left back.
Aberdeen passed up another chance with ten minutes remaining. Hutchison’s battling for the ball saw it break across to the right and Urquhart ran in on it before blasting a low shot on target which was saved by the feet of Mutch.
With time running out it was Motherwell who were the next to go close. Some great quick passing saw them cut through Aberdeen and goalscorer Burchill’s effort was brilliantly tipped onto the post by Marwaha.
A late push by the Dons saw them go close in the final seconds as Chloe Gover’s corner caused a scramble on the line but they couldn’t force home a consolation.
FT: ABERDEEN 0 MOTHERWELL 2
TEAMS
AFC Women | Marwaha, Campbell (C), Urquhart, Broadrick, Paterson (Gover 74′), Shore, Hutchison, Collins, Stewart, Ogilvie (Christie 59′) & Finnie
Substitutes not used | McCann, Gover, Sopel, Thomson, Karkkainen, Black
Motherwell Women | Mutch, Addie, Rice, Lawton, Watson, Burchill, Gardner, Ingilis, Anderson, Doran-Barr, Boyes
Substitutes | Andrews, Boyce, Crichton, Rafferty, Jardine, Noble
REACTION
RedTV subscribers can watch reaction from Gavin Levey and Bailley Collins- click here to watch now.
