Dons slip to home defeat

Thursday 16th November 2023

Aberdeen Women 1 Partick Thistle Women 3

Cormack Park

Scottish Power Women’s Premier League

Kick-off 19:15

Aberdeen lost 3-1 to Partick Thistle in the freezing fog at Cormack Park. A first half goal by Bayley Hutchison had the Dons ahead at the halfway point but second half goals by Rosie Slater, Linzi Taylor and Rosie McQuillan saw the Jags take the three points back to Petershill.

Clinton Lancaster made one change to the side the defeated Motherwell 5-2 in the last match. Francesca Ogilvie returned from illness with Phoebe Murray, fresh from playing with Scotland under-16s this week, taking a seat on the bench.

The visitors made a bright start to the match with Linzi Taylor having a shot blocked in the penalty box by Chloe Gover before Cara Henderson fired a ball across the face of goal from a tight angle.

Aberdeen’s first foray into the Thistle half came from Ogilvie doing well to rob Demi Falconer but the Dons wide player saw her square pass towards Bayley Hutchison cut out by the visiting defence. Thistle then had a great chance when Kodie Hay found Imogen Longcake at the back post but the striker fired her shot wide of the target.

The hosts went in front on 15 minutes when they scored with their first attempt on goal after a brilliant team move. Jess Broadrick and Eva Thomson were involved on the right before Hannah Innes did well to cut in-field and square across the edge of the box. HUTCHISON collected the ball and played a neat 1-2 with Hannah Stewart before steering a powerful shot into the bottom corner.

The opening goal seem to settle the hosts as they began to play some great passing football in the freezing conditions. Hutchison tried her luck from a free-kick which was held by Thistle keeper Megan Cunningham and before the keeper collected a speculative effort by Innes from the angle of the box.

Partick were far from out of it though and Longcake reminded the hosts of that when she fired a shot away from the edge of the box which was deflected into the arms of Annalisa McCann in the home goal. Henderson then got herself in behind the home defence and collected a bouncing ball well before hooking a shot wide of the target.

The visitors were in the ascendency as the half entered its final five minutes and it looked as though the Dons were desperate for the half time whistle. Lucy Sinclair was the next to go close as she connected well with a volley at the edge of the box which McCann did well save.

It was Thistle who had the last chance of the half when Falconer headed over from close range after getting on the end of a corner and the whistle came for the interval.

HT: ABERDEEN 1 PARTICK THISTLE 0

The second half began much as the first half ended with Thistle the team looking more likely to score the next goal. There was a blow for the Dons on 55 minutes when top scorer Bayley Hutchison was forced off with a knock. Phoebe Murray replaced the striker as the Dons were forced into a reshuffle.

Undeterred, the home side almost extended their lead instantly as substitute Murray started a move that ended with Thomson seeing a dipping shot saved. Before Thistle could clear Darcie Miller saw her effort come back off the crossbar.

It was Thistle who got the game’s next goal though as they levelled in spectacular fashion on the hour. Rosie SLATER sending a long-range effort arrowing into the top corner to equalise. It almost got better for the visitors when Sinclair sent a dipping shot just wide.

Aberdeen made their second change of the game on 64 minutes when Innes was replaced by Aimee Black.

Taylor must’ve thought she had put Thistle in front when she got a powerful shot away in the area but it was brilliantly blocked by the sliding Eilidh Shore. TAYLOR did hit the net from the resulting corner as she headed her side in front.

The Dons made a third change as they tried to find a way back into the game with ten minutes remaining as Miller was replaced by Emma Lawson.

The cold mist thickened as the game entered its final minutes but the home side struggled to create an opening against a solid Thistle side who in truth, were worthy of their victory. They sealed a 3-1 win in stoppage time as a deflected Rosie MCQUILLAN strike found the back of the net.

FT: ABERDEEN 1 PARTICK THISTLE 3

Aberdeen:

20. Annalisa McCann 4. Jessica Broadrick 7. Eilidh Shore 8. Chloe Gover 9. Hannah Stewart 10. Bayley Hutchison (Murray 55) 12. Darcie Miller (Lawson 80) 13. Francesca Ogilvie 15. Madison Finnie 16. Hannah Innes (Black 64) 18. Eva Thomson

Subs:

11. Hannah Insch 19. Amelie Martindale 21. Emma Lawson 22. Pheobe Murray 23. Aimee Black 30. Zoe MacLean (GK)

Partick Thistle:

25. Megan Cunningham 2. Rosie Slater 3. Emma Lawton 5. Demi Falconer 7. Kodie Hay 8. Clare Docherty 9. Cara Henderson 10. Claire Adams 15. Linzie Taylor 27. Imogen Longcake 30. Lucy Sinclair