Glasgow City 8 Aberdeen Women 1
Scottish Power Women’s Premier League
Sunday 3rd March 2023 | 14:00
Petershill Park
Aberdeen suffered a chastening defeat at Petershill in the SWPL as Champions Glasgow City scored eight times. The hosts had a four-goal lead at half-time and despite Bayley Hutchison briefly reducing the arrears in the second half, a further four goals for the home side saw them comfortably take the points.
There were two changes to Clint Lancaster’s starting eleven from the last outing against Dundee United. Chloe Gover and Darcie Miller came in from the start with Keira Macpherson and Adele Lindbaek moving to the bench. English defender Lois Edwards was back in the matchday squad for the first time as she recovers from injury.
The home side got off to the perfect start in the game with a goal inside the opening two minutes. Carlee Giammona found Hayley LAUDER on the left of the penalty area and the Scotland international found the back of the net via the inside of the post.
City are still very much in the hunt to retain their league title and they went in search of a second goal in the opening stages. Fiona Brown tip-toed her way into the Dons box before testing Jen Currie with a curling shot that the keeper did well to hold.
Aberdeen’s first sight of goal came after fifteen minutes as Miller was slotted in the through the middle but the angle worked against the young striker who couldn’t get enough power in her shot to trouble Lee Gibson.
Scotland winger Brown was causing the Dons problems down the right and she weaved her way into the box again before setting up Mairead Fulton who forced Currie into a fine diving save. The hosts doubled their lead from the resulting corner as a scramble in the box ended with Meikayla MOORE forcing the ball in.
It was 3-0 on 33 minutes as City scored from a set play. Lauder stood over a free-kick wide on the Glasgow left and with everyone anticipating a cross she slid a low pass towards the front post where Lisa FORREST was able to side-foot home.
Aberdeen made a double change five minutes before half-time as they looked to change the balance of the game. Miller and Broadrick were replaced by Hannah Innes and Adele Lindbaek as Clint Lancaster changed the formation of his side.
City scored a fourth right on half-time through an individual effort. GIAMMONA collected the ball wide on the right just over halfway and carried the ball all the way into the box before finding the bottom corner of the net.
HT: GLASGOW CITY 4 ABERDEEN 0
They were facing an uphill task in the second period but Aberdeen came out looking to get on the front foot with Innes testing Gibson from long range. They were rewarded for their positivity five minutes into the half as they pulled one back. HUTCHISON took advantage of some slack defending in the box to prod home beyond the Scotland goalkeeper.
Currie produced another fine stop to prevent Brown from restoring her team’s four goal lead. At the other end a brilliant long ball by Innes almost put Hutchison through on goal but the ball just wouldn’t sit for the striker as Kenzie Weir cleared the danger.
There was a let off for the Dons on 65 minutes when City almost got a fifth. Brown’s driven cross from the right evaded everyone in the box before rebounding back off the back post and into the arms of Currie.
The crossbar kept out City twice as Weir passed up a hat-trick of opportunities to score. The big defender saw her a header come off the woodwork and come straight back to her before repeating the feat and with her third header, nodding straight at Currie.
Aimee Black replaced Eva Thomson just as Aberdeen had a great opportunity to pull a goal back. Hannah Stewart found Hutchison with a neat through ball but the striker’s effort was saved by the feet of Gibson.
City made it five on 71 minutes when half-time substitute Wilma FORSBLOM showed quick feet at the edge of the area before finishing low into the corner. It six just two minutes later when GIAMMONA let fly with a stunning long-range strike which gave Currie no chance as it flew into the top corner.
The quick-fire double was harsh on the Dons who had been much improved in the second half but their afternoon got even worse as the champions made it seven. A corner into the box wasn’t defended well and substitute Aleigh GAMBONE found herself unmarked as she headed home from close range.
City scored their eighth goal of the match on 81 minutes when a well worked freekick found its way to MOORE in the box and the New Zealand international finished well beyond Currie for her second of the game.
The Dons made a final change as Hutchison was replaced by Emma Lawson in the closing minutes. It was the hosts who continued to push for more goals though as the game entered stoppage time but they couldn’t add to their lead.
FT: GLASGOW CITY 8 ABERDEEN 1
STATS
Aberdeen: Currie, Broadrick (Lindbaek 40′), Shore, Gover, Stewart (C), Hutchison (Lawson 86′), Miller (Innes 40′), Ogilvie, Finnie, Banfield, Thomson (Black 69′)
Subs not used: McCann, Edwards, Macpherson, Murray
Scored: Hutchison 50′
Booked: Finnie 46′
Glasgow City: Gibson, Warrington, Muir, Lauder, Fulton, Davidson, Moore, Weir, Forrest, Giammona, Brown
Subs: Clachers, Love, Whelan, Forsblom, Gambone, Sullivan, Wardlaw, Murchie
