Dons suffer defeat in Glasgow

Scottish Power Womens Premier League Partick Thistle 2 Aberdeen Women 0 Sunday 14th February 2024 Petershill Park

Aberdeen lost 2-0 to Partick Thistle in the Scottish Women’s Premier League this afternoon at a bitterly cold Petershill Park. First half goals by Linzi Taylor and Rosie Slater gave the home side all three points as new Dons goalkeeper Jeni Currie put in a brilliant performance to deny the hosts a bigger winning margin.

There were two changes to Clinton Lancaster’s starting line-up from the team that kicked off against Boroughmuir Thistle in the Scottish Cup last week. Hannah Innes and Francesca Ogilvie, who both came off the bench at half-time in the previous match, came in from the start in place of Amilie Martindale and Emma Lawson.

Aberdeen nearly got off to the perfect start as they almost went in front after just two minutes. Good pressure by Eva Thomson in the middle of the park saw Hannah Stewart pick up the ball. Stewart released Bayley Hutchison through the middle but Megan Cunningham in the Thistle goal did well to parry the striker’s shot wide.

The hosts had an early chance themselves as Cara Henderson headed straight at Dons keeper Jeni Currie. The keeper made another stop minutes later as she blocked an attempt from a corner but she could do nothing on 9 minutes as the home side went in front.

A quick attack down the Thistle’s right saw the ball worked into the centre of goal for Linzi TAYLOR to side foot home from 14 yards.

Aberdeen threatened to get back on terms with Hutchison playing on the shoulder of the last defender but the offside flag prevented the striker going through on goal. At the other end Rachel Donaldson passed up an opportunity to double her side’s lead but she fired over from close range.

The hosts got a second five minutes before half-time in fortuitous fashion. A corner from the Thistle right was cleared from the Dons box and Rosie SLATER fired it back in from long-range, the ball took a huge deflection on its way which took it beyond Currie and into the net.

It could’ve got worse for Aberdeen right on half-time but Donaldson fired wide from close range meaning the hosts went into the break two goals ahead.

HT: PARTICK THISTLE 2 ABERDEEN 0

Aberdeen dominated the ball in the early stages of the second period as they went in search of a route back into the game. Good pressure by Thomson forced a corner which was taken by Innes and Eilidh Shore was unlucky to see her header go just over.

The Dons made their first change on the hour as Phoebe Murray replaced Thomson who could count herself unlucky to see her involvement in the game ended.

Thistle made a triple substitution with new signing Carla Boyce being given her debut but it was the striker that started the game for them that was the next to go close. Cara Henderson is having a good season for the hosts in front of goal but she couldn’t direct her powerful volley either side of Currie.

Currie then made a stunning stop to deny Boyce a debut goal as she got down brilliant to deny the striker from close range. Hutchison then made way for Darcie Miller as Aberdeen made their second change of the game.

The Aberdeen keeper was putting in a great performance on her league debut and she twice denied Thistle substitute Imogen Longcake with superb diving saves.

Despite the visitors’ possession in the second half they were unable to create any more chances as the hosts deservedly took all three points.