Aberdeen 3 Kilmarnock 1
Balmoral Stadium
Sky Sports Cup 25/26 Round 2
Sunday October 5th, 2025
Summary:
Aberdeen Women returned to Balmoral Stadium on Sunday afternoon, taking on SWPL 2 side Kilmarnock in the Sky Sports Cup. The Dons came into this one looking for a turn of form after falling to a 2-0 defeat away to Motherwell last weekend.
Scott Booth made three changes from the defeat at K-Park with Anna Prawer starting in between the sticks in place of Katie Cox, Francesca Ogilvie and Toni-Leigh Finnegan started in place of Alex Clarke and Mya Christie.
It was Aberdeen that booked their place in the next round of the Sky Sports Cup with a commanding second-half display at Balmoral Stadium. After a goalless first half where both sides traded chances, Scott Booth’s halftime substitutions turned the tide. Goals from Aimee Black, Hannah Stewart, and Kerry Beattie sealed the victory for the Dons, despite a brief Kilmarnock equaliser from Kelsy Crainie.
Report:
The Dons kicked this cup tie off, but it was the visitors who earned the first chance of the afternoon. Elidh Martin stood over the free kick, but Prawer remained untroubled as the ball flew over the cross bar.
Aberdeen’s first opportunity came courtesy of Holly Daniel. The midfielder flew past Martin on the touchline before setting herself to pick out Hannah Stewart in the box. The captain had to readjust her body to control the ball of her thigh and, at full stretch, managed to get her shot away, but it was too close to Holly Kerrigan, who scrambled the ball to safety.
The Dons took control of the early parts of the tie, playing some neat one-touch football through the Kilmarnock midfield in search of their opener. Emma Ilijoski and Ogilvie linked up on the edge of the box to earn the home side a free kick and a great chance of taking the lead.
Eva Thomson and Abigail Tobin stood over the ball, each feinting and stuttering before the former’s attempt forced a save from Kerrigan – her 2nd of the match.
Kerrigan was called into action a minute later. Daniel’s quick feet evaded Kilmarnock’s challenges in the middle of the park before picking her head up to sweep the ball to Finnie, who was free on the overlap. The defender cut the ball back to Thomson, making the late run into the box and her right footed strike footed strike was gathered by Kerrigan.
With half an hour played, it was all square. Aberdeen had the better of the chances; however, the Ayrshire outfit was very much still in the game. Failure to make first contact with loose balls meant Killie were able to pick up the scraps and drive forward into space, only exemplified by Broadrick’s’ booking as she had no choice but to bring down Lucie Burns on the edge of the box. Skye Stout stood over it and struck over.
Burns was involved in a big chance soon after, as she was the recipient of a superb ball in behind. She popped the ball up for herself and unleashed a vicious half volley which flashed just wide of the post.
Captain Abby Robinson had the final chance of the half as she thundered an effort from the edge of the box, forcing Prawer into full stretch to deny the opener.
Half Time Aberdeen 0– 0 Kilmarnock
Scott Booth made a triple substitution at halftime time bringing on some attacking reinforcements. Kerry Beattie came on for Galloway in a like-for-like change, whilst Daniel made way for Mendez. Broadrick was also subbed as Aimee Black came on as a makeshift centre forward.
Beattie nearly made an instant impact as she raced onto Prawer’s clearance, following it all the way into the box, striking hard but straight into the path of Kerrigan.
Hannah Stewart followed suit as she let one off from 30 yards, sailing over.
The substitutes linked up for the opener in the 53rd minute. Kerry Beattie rolled Taylor McGlashan out wide and delivered a curled through ball to Black at the far post. The defender bent her run to remain onside and squeezed her shot under Kerrigan.
It was nearly a double in quick succession from Aberdeen. Abigail Tobin’s inswining corner was flicked on by Ogilvie into Finnegan, volleying agonisingly wide.
Kilmarnock weren’t up for lying down, as just two minutes after the goal, a deep Eilidh Martin free kick evened the score again. The ball floated over the Dons’ defence, causing some confusion as to who was to clear. Kelsy Crainie stood free at the far post, and her cross come shot looped over Prawer to level things.
The equaliser pushed Killie on as they found themselves a whisker away from leading. Cara Gray found herself one one-on-one with Maddie Finnie, cutting inside and curling her effort towards the bottom right. Prawer remained alert and sprang low to make the stop.
Just as things looked to be going against the Dons found their moment. Francesca Ogilvie showed real pace and desire to win the ball from Lauryn Reside on the left wing and cross into Stewart who was at hand to provide the vital flick, rolling past Kerrigan to change the tide of the tie.
Aimee Black’s centre forward cameo was in full flow as she rouletted away from two of her markers before winning a free kick on the edge of the box. Eva Thomson tested her luck again, firing directly onto the post to the gasps of the Balmoral crowd.
The tie was closed out in the 86th minute when Finnegan picked out a lurking Beattie just inside the left of the box. With time to set herself, Beattie curled her effort in off the post to secure the Don’s place in the next round of the Sky Sports Cup.
Full Time Aberdeen 3 –1 Kilmarnock FC
STATS:
Aberdeen: 1. Anna Prawer, 4. Jessica Broadrick (Black 46’), 6. Toni Leigh Finnegan, 8. Bridget Galloway (Beattie 46’), 9. Hannah Stewart, 11. Holly Daniel (Mendez 46’) 13. Francesca Ogilvie, 15. Madison Finnie, 17. Emma Ilijoski, 18. Eva Thomson, 22. Abi Tobin
Subs: 21. Amber Signorini, 2. Alix Mendez, 3. Niamh Noble, 5. Aimee Black, 14. Holly McEvoy, 20. Alexandra Clarke, 27. Kerry Beattie
Goals: Black 53’, Stewart 79’, Beattie 86’
Bookings: Broadrick 32’, Finnegan 83’
Kilmarnock FC: 1. Holly Kerrigan, 2. Georgina McTear, 3. Eilidh Martin, 4. Arwen O’Brien (Scott 46’), 6. Taylor McGlashan, 9. Cara Gray, 10. Abby Robinson, 12. Kelsy Crainie (Hanvey 87’), 15. Lauryn Reside (MacConnell 87’), 16. Lucie Burns (Canavan 87’), 17. Skye Stout (Cowan 87’)
Subs: 31. Ellie Currie, 5. Mia Scott, 18. Louise Cowan, 20. Kaitlyn Canavan, 22. Philippa MacConnell, 23. Fiona Cullie, 24. Megan Samson, 26. Bayley Hanvey, 27. Eve Watt
Goals: Craine 55’
