Aberdeen FC Women 4 Dundee United Women 3
Scottish Power Women’s Premier League
Balmoral Stadium
18th February 2024 – 14:00
Aberdeen came back from 3-1 to snatch an injury time winner as a 4-3 victory saw the hosts take all three points at the Balmoral Stadium. The Dons trailed at the interval as goals for Morgan Steedman (2) and Rachel Todd had United 3-1 up with Bayley Hutchison getting one back. Maddie Finnie started the second half comeback, and a Hannah Stewart penalty drew the sides level. Eilidh Shore grabbed the winner three minutes into added time to snatch the points.
There was a welcome return in the Dons side as Jessica Broadrick took her place in the starting line-up after a spell out with injury. Keira MacPherson also came into the side as both Chloe Gover and Hannah Innes moved to the bench.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors and Aberdeen had their keeper to thank for keeping them level. MacPherson was caught on the ball 30-yards out by Rachel Todd who was clear through on goal but was prevented from scoring by a good Jennifer Currie save.
Aberdeen settled after that early scare and created their first chance when Hannah Stewart and Bayley Hutchison combined to set up Francesca Ogilvie who fired a shot over the bar. It was United though who went in front though on 13-minutes. Leah Sidey found Morgan STEEDMAN in the penalty area and her shot went in high over Currie.
It was two-nil to United just three minutes later as the same player did the damage for the away side. STEEDMAN picked up the ball just outside the box before firing home a powerful shot. The Dons responded by pulling a goal back just two minutes later. MacPherson did well to get forward down the right before crossing for HUTCHISON to head home from close range.
The frantic early pace to the game continued as the play went from end-to-end. Todd and Hutchison exchanged shots on goal at either goal whilst Keeley Banfield tested United keeper Megan Sidey from distance.
A good move by the Dons saw Adele Lindbaek skip passed her marker down the left. The ball eventually reached Ogilvie on the opposite wing who did well to check inside and shoot but she couldn’t keep her effort under the crossbar.
Dundee United restored their two-goal advantage from the penalty spot on 34 minutes. Banfield felled Steedman right on the edge of the area and TODD stepped up to send Currie the wrong way with the spot-kick.
Sidey in the visiting goal prevented another quick Aberdeen response just a minute after United’s third. A corner from the Dons right was met by a group of players and Sidey got down brilliantly to make a save after the ball was sent goalwards by the head one of her defenders.
The United keeper made another great save minutes before half-time. Eilidh Shore played an incisive ball through the heart of the United defence for Hutchison who closed in on goal before being denied by Sidey saving at the near post.
HT: ABERDEEN 1 DUNDEE UNITED 3
Clint Lancaster shuffled his side at the interval as he looked to find a way back into the game. MacPherson was replaced by Darcie Miller who went straight up front with Banfield dropping back into defence.
The changes didn’t have an instant response and ten minutes into the half there was another substitution as Lindbaek was replaced by Phoebe Murray.
Aberdeen finally got an attempt just before the hour after a dangerous cross by Stewart was put behind for a corner. Ogilvie took the resulting kick which was met by Miller sneaking in at the back post, but her effort hit the side-netting.
Shore then had a half-chance when she prodded an Ogilvie cross wide. Miller too had an opportunity as she got on the end of a Hutchison pass, but the young striker couldn’t get control of the ball as it bounced into the arms of Sidey.
The second Dons goal arrived on 68-minutes. Ogilvie’s free-kick into the box was attacked by FINNIE who glanced the ball into the bottom corner for her first goal of the season.
Stewart was the first to have a go at grabbing an equaliser when she cut in from the left and fired in a shot which Sidey did well to hold. Hutchison then had a chance, but she saw a close-range effort saved as the Dons pushed for an equaliser.
The game saw its second penalty on 77-minutes as Aberdeen levelled the match. Ogilvie’s ball into the box struck a Dundee United arm and the referee awarded a penalty. STEWART took the kick and scored low into the net for her seventh of the campaign.
The Dons went in search of a late winner and it could’ve arrived in spectacular fashion when Eva Thomson’s dipping volley from distance initially looked like dropping in before falling over the crossbar.
Aberdeen went in front for the first time in the match three minutes into stoppage time. Ogilvie’s corners had been causing United problems all game and after they scrambled another clear it went back to the taker who delivered a cross into the area. The ball in caused a scramble and SHORE was composed in a crowded penalty box as she smashed the winner into the roof of the net.
FT: ABERDEEN 4 DUNDEE UNITED 3
STATS
Aberdeen: Currie, Broadrick, Shore, Stewart, Hutchison, Lindbaek (Murray 55′), Ogilvie, Finnie, Banfield, Thomson (Innes 90′), Macpherson (Miller 46′)
Subs not used: McCann, MacLean, Gover, Martindale, Lawson, Black
Goals: Hutchison 17′, Finnie 68′, Stewart 77′, Shore 90+3′
Dundee United: Sidey, Frew, Wilson, Jamieson, Bruce, Smith, Robb, Todd, Steedman, Sidey, Davies
Subs: Fraser, Robb, Cusack, Christie, Taylor, Knight, Greenwood
