Aberdeen Women 0 Rangers 11 ScottishPower Women’s Premier League Balmoral Stadium Sunday 11 August 16:10
It was a long afternoon for Colin Bell’s young Aberdeen side at Balmoral as Rangers showed their experience running out dominant winners despite the best efforts of Megan Sidey.
There was an early sign of things to come when Katie Wilkinson opened the scoring in the 6th minute with a near post header after an inviting cross from Lizzie Arnot on the left wing.
Bell named five new signings in his starting line-up with Megan Sidey in goal, joined by Niamh Noble, returning Don Natasha Bruce, Gracie Robertson and Emily Kraft.
Rangers went 2-0 up a few minutes later in the 11th minute through Rio Hardy who tapped in from close range after the ball was worked out left again and the Dons were unable to clear in the area.
The visitors continue don the front foot with some fine passing football almost providing a third goal but Wilkinson’s effort from the edge of the area was sliced just wide of the post. Sidey was then on hand at full stretch to prevent a looping cross heading into the net.
Just as the Dons seemed to be settling into the game Rangers had a third and it was Arnot who was the provider down the left yet again with Hardy unmarked in the middle to knock the ball past Sidey.
Things went from bad to worse for Aberdeen with Arnot adding a fourth from close range after The Dons failed to clear in the area, that was quickly followed by a fifth as a cross from Mcaulay was turned into the net by Chloe Gover under close attention from Rio Hardy just five minutes before half-time.
Just before the half-time whistle Rangers added a sixth goal despite Sidey’s best efforts. After saving the first effort her block fell to Katie Wilkinson who produced a smart half volley finish from the edge of the area.
Half-time, Aberdeen 0 Rangers 6.
Holly McEvoy made her debut at the break coming on for Gracie Robertson with Rangers making a triple change of their own with Howat, McAulay and Cornet being replaced by Rafferty, Middag and Berry.
Sidey was called into action early on in the half producing a close range stop from Wilkinson’s powerful header. In the 57th minute The Dons almost pulled a goal back when Kraft got on the end of the ball over the top, before finding Thomson inside, she then found the onrushing Innes who rifled a shot off the bar from 18 yards.
In the 67th minute McLaughlan made it 7-0 finding the back of the net with a looping shot from outside the area after a corner-kick was pulled back to her.
The Dons had difficulty from a corner again minutes later when Wilkinson netted her hat-trick with a flick-on direct from the corner to make it 8-0.
In the 74th minute Katie Wilkinson scored her 4th of the game to make it 9-0 after getting on the end of a through ball inside the box, once again Sidey had no chance with the powerful strike from close range.
With 15 minutes to play Bell made another change with Darcie Miller coming on to replace Hannah Innes.
With 5 minutes left of the 90, Arnot made it double figures for Rangers when she found plenty of space inside the box to fire past Sidey.
Edwards & Elder replaced Kraft & Black in the 90th minute and in the final action of the game Berry made it 11-0 after Aberdeen failed to deal with a long ball over the top.
Full-time. Aberdeen Women 0 Rangers 11.
Next up for The Dons, a trip to the central belt to take on Hibernian before returning to Balmoral Stadium on Wednesday 21st August for the visit of Montrose.
REACTION: Colin Bell
“It was an unbelievably poor performance. I cannot believe it. I can accept losing, but double figures, and the goals we gifted, it is unbelievable. We conceded six first half goals, five from crosses. We have got to move on, but we have to see the way we played today is not Premiership football. That is the reality. Rangers are a top team, but you have to run until you drop, put your head where it hurts, and it did not happen. We can lose, but I have never been humiliated. That will never happen again. It is unacceptable. It was not what they have shown in the training sessions. It was a different team. The second half we held them off for twenty minutes, and then we invite them to score goals. We let them play, and we gift them.”
STATS
Aberdeen: 1. Megan Sidey, 3. Niamh Noble, 4. Natasha Bruce, 8. Chloe Gover, 9. Hannah Stewart (C), 15. Madison Finnie, 16. Hannah Innes (10. Darcie Miller 78′), 17. Grace Robertson (14. Holly McEvoy 45′), 18. Eva Thomson, 19. Emily Kraft (25. Grace Elder 90′), 23. Aimee Black (2. Lois Edwards 90′)
Substitutes not used: 24. Zoe Maclean (GK), 11. Kiera MacPherson, 12. Johan Fraser, 22. Antonia Adams
Rangers: 22. Victoria Esson, 2. Nicola Docherty, 3. Leah Eddie, 4. Kathryn Hill, 9. Kirsty Howat, 10. Rio Hardy, 14. Mia Mcaulay, 15. Elizabeth Arnot, 19. Chelsea Cornet, 24. Olivia McLoughlin, 44. Katie Wilkinson
Substitutes: 1. Jenna Fife, 5. Laura Rafferty, 6. Tessel Middag, 16. Eilidh Austin, 18. Laura Berry, 40. Sophie Black
