Partick Thistle Women 4 | Taylor 55′, Henderson 63′, Adams 71′; Longcake 89′
AFC Women 3 | Hutchison 17′ ; Christie 52′; Ogilvie 90′ (Urquhart sent off 54′)
FULL TIME | Petershill Park, Glasgow | SWPL1 | Kick off – 1pm | HT 0-1
____________________________________________________________
MATCH REPORT by Mark Gordon
Aberdeen lost out in a seven-goal thriller at Petershill as Partick Thistle came from 2-0 down to run out 4-3 winners. The Dons, who had Millie Urquhart sent off, led 2-0 through Bayley Hutchison and Mya Christie goals but Thistle fought back to lead 4-2 before Francesca Ogilvie scored what turned out to be a late consolation.
Gavin Levey made one change to the team that started the goalless draw against Hibernian in midweek. Bailley Collins came in to replace Eva Thomson whilst Eilidh Shore made her 100th appearance for AFC Women.
The match got off to a scrappy start with both teams giving away multiple fouls in the opening stages. Thistle forced a few early corners which the Dons defence dealt with comfortably and at the other end the pace of Loren Campbell and Francesca Ogilvie down the right threatened to cause the hosts problems.
Aberdeen broke the deadlock on 17-minutes with a goal that started with goalkeeper Annalisa McCann. Jess Broadrick collected from the keeper and played the ball across to Millie Urquhart who sent a fantastic ball over the Thistle back-line. Bayley HUTCHISON was quick off the mark to beat the defenders to the ball before smashing a right-foot shot into the top corner.
The hosts responded well from losing the opener as they went in search of an equaliser. Whilst the home side pushed forward Aberdeen’s pace in attack always looked likely to cause problems on the counter.
Fergusson looked like she was about to equalise as she forced her way towards goal only to be thwarted by a combination of Broadrick and Urquhart. Falconer then went close as her powerful shot towards the near post was well tipped over by McCann.
Urquhart and Christie both picked up bookings for the visitors as the tough nature of the match continued. Thistle then went close again as a long-range effort crashed back off the crossbar whilst Eilidh Shore became the latest Aberdeen player to enter the book.
Despite a rally late on in the half Thistle couldn’t carve out any further chances before the interval as the Dons held on to their one-goal lead.
HT: PATRICK THISTLE 0 ABERDEEN 1
The Dons made a switch during the break with Donna Paterson coming into the defence as Chloe Gover made way.
Thistle passed up a glorious opportunity to level the scores in the opening minutes of the half. Bailley Collins cleared in the box after McCann parried a Henderson free-kick from the right. When the ball was played back in Falconer found herself wide open at the back post but she fired her shot wide.
It was Aberdeen who got the game’s next goal to double their advantage. Collins released Mya CHRISTIE down the left and the Scotland under-19 player sped clear of the Thistle defence before calmly finding the back of the net.
The two-goal lead didn’t last long though as the hosts got themselves back in the game. Millie Urquhart gave away a foul right on the edge of the penalty box which saw her being given a red card. From the resulting free-kick TAYLOR curled in a fine finish to reduce the arrears.
It was all-square just after the hour as Thistle made their numerical advantage count. A hopeful high ball into the area by Murphy landed amongst a group of players and HENDERSON got up highest to force home a header.
Bailley Collins was replaced by Madison Finnie as the visitors looked to respond to losing their two-goal lead.
The ten-woman Dons were being pushed back by Thistle and the hosts took the lead in the match for the first time on 71-minutes. A ball into the box found Claire ADAMS who forced the ball over the line.
Aberdeen pushed for an equaliser as the game entered its final ten minutes. Ogilvie was blocked by Docherty just outside the area but Paterson smashed the resulting free-kick over the bar. Hutchison was then replaced by Stewart in the closing minutes.
Thistle sealed the three points with a minute left on the clock. Imogen LONGCAKE rounded McCann before finishing from a tight angle. The Dons hit back instantly to give themselves a chance of salvaging something from the game. OGILVIE’s in-swinging free-kick was saved by Cunningham in the Thistle goal but the linesman judged that the ball had crossed the line.
The Dons couldn’t find a fourth goal though as the hosts took all three points.
FT: PARTICK THISTLE 4 ABERDEEN 3
____________________________________________________________
REACTION
Gavin LEVEY: “The outcome certainly isn’t what we wanted from this game. It was a hostile environment and credit to Thistle for making it that way. Our game plan was going well and we went in one nil up at half time. We went out second half and got our second goal but then a few minutes later young Millie, who has been fantastic for us lately, is so keen to get in a tackle that she gives away a foul and picks up a second yellow card. They then scored from the free-kick and we go from killing the game off to them getting real boost and the game turned really. There was never any doubt that we would fight to the end and we got another one back from Fran’s free-kick. The goals we conceded were preventable but it’s a huge ask to come here in these circumstances and get something with ten players. We’re at home next week and these girls will be up for it. They’re hurting today but they’ll dust themselves down and come back from it. I think they’ve got a point to prove, we’ve had a lot go against us recently but we can’t keep looking for excuses.”
____________________________________________________________
The match was live on the Partick Thistle Women’s YouTube Channel-watch below
___________________________________________________________
MILESTONE MOMENT
Congratulations to Eilidh Shore on her 100th appearance for the club!
____________________________________________________________
LINE UPS
AFC Women- McCann, Campbell (c), Urquhart, Broadrick, Shore, Gover (Paterson 46′), Hutchison (Stewart 85′), Collins (Finnie 64′), Ogilvie, Christie & Hanssen
Substitutes not used- Marwaha, Finnie, Sopel, Thomson, Karkkainen
Partick Thistle– Cunningham, Slater, Murphy, Falconer (c), Docherty, McLintock, Donaldson,Bulloch, Taylor, Henderson & Ferguson
Substitutes- Ramsay, Dalziel, Adams, MacDonald, Robinson, Fisher & Longcake
____________________________________________________________
Referee: Chris Gentles
