Dons return to winning ways at Balmoral

Sunday 19th November 2023 | Aberdeen Women v Spartans Women Balmoral Stadium | Scottish Power Women’s Premier League | Kick-off 14:00

Aberdeen 2 Spartans 1

Hutchison 19, Stewart 23

Gibb, 90+3

Aberdeen took all three points as they edged passed Spartans 2-1 at Balmoral Stadium in the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League. First half goals from Bayley Hutchison and Hannah Stewart had the hosts in front with Caley Gibb setting up a nervy finish in stoppage time. The celebrations for the win were tempered by the fact Spartans striker Rebecca Galbraith had to be stretchered off with a nasty looking injury which cause an 40 minute stoppage in play at the end of the first half.

There was one change to Clinton Lancaster’s Dons side that were defeated by Partick Thistle on Thursday night as Phoebe Murray replaced Darcie Miller.

Aberdeen’s first chance came inside the first five minutes as wing-back Hannah Innes cut in from the right and fired a shot straight at Alicia Yates in the Spartans goal. The visitors had their own chance early on but Annalia McCann did well to hold onto a header from a corner.

After a quiet opening to the match with both teams struggling to create any chances, the hosts burst into life on 19 minutes. A ricocheted clearance from a Spartans defender fell into the path of Aberdeen top scorer Bayley HUTCHISON who held off Dion McMahon before smashing a shot into the roof of the net.

The hosts clearly got a lift from the opener as they started to knock the ball about with a lot more confidence and they were rewarded with a second just four minutes after the opener. A brilliant ball by Eva Thomson found Hannah Stewart to set up the attack which culminated in Hutchison turning provider as she set up STEWART who finished with aplomb for her 5th of the campaign.

Spartans showed that they still posed a threat as Rebecca Galbraith went down the left but her cross evaded two team-mates in the box as the hosts got briefly outnumbered.

The visitors were struggling to press the Dons who were playing some really good stuff, and they almost went three in front on 32-minutes. Innes found herself in space twenty yards from goal and hit a stinging shot which Yates did well to tip over.

The ball was in the back of the Aberdeen in 35 minutes but the hosts were saved by an offside flag. Caley Gibb, who looked to have had a good case for a penalty after being felled in the box seconds earlier, snuck in to head home a cross into the box but the assistant’s flag kept the 2-0 lead intact.

There was a worrying end to the first 45 minutes as Rebecca Galbraith required lengthy treatment on the pitch for an injury. There was a near 40 minute stoppage as physios from both teams took care of the Spartans player who eventually left in an ambulance.

HT: ABERDEEN 2 SPARTANS 0

There was an understandably low-key start to the second half after the long delay and to Spartans credit, it was they who started the half the brighter of the teams after seeing their teammate stretchered off.

Alana Marshall had the best chance of the opening period as her fiercely struck was well blocked by Eilidh Shore. Amelie Martindale then replaced Hannah Innes and Aberdeen tried to turn the tide which was flowing in the direction of the visitors.

They almost did exactly that on 68 minutes when 15-year-old Phoebe Murray saw her long-range effort clatter back off the crossbar. There was a double change for the Dons a few minutes later as Finnie and Thomson were replaced by Darcie Miller and Aimee Black.

Spartans early second half pressure had worn off somewhat as the hosts went in search of a third. Good play by Miller earned a freekick in the final third but Chloe Gover’s effort wasn’t up to her usual standard as it flew wide.

Marshall again had a go from a long range free-kick as the game entered it’s final stages but her effort never troubled McCann in the Aberdeen goal. Caley Gibb then clipped the top of the crossbar with a right foot shot from inside the box.

McCann was having a solid game between the sticks for Aberdeen and she made a great stop in the closing minutes to deny Spartans substitute Lauren Berman.

Emma Lawson and Hannah Insch replaced Hutchison and Ogilvie as the game entered it’s closing stages and the two almost combined for a goal when Lawson’s ball into the box found Insch who forced Yates into a diving save.

The visitors did pull a goal back three minutes into stoppage time when GIBB headed home a Hannah Jordan cross.