Aberdeen 2 Gartcairn 0 Sky Sports Cup R2 Balmoral Stadium 29 September | 13.00

Aberdeen kicked off their Sky Sports Cup campaign with a comfortable second round victory against SWPL 2 side Gartcairn.

The Reds thought they grabbed the opening goal in the 18th minute when an Eva Thomson strike was tapped into the empty net by Emily Kraft. The striker unfortunately was standing in an offside position.

Aberdeen started to find confidence. Noticing the keeper off her line in the 24th minute, Aimee Black decided to try her luck just metres from halfway. Her effort kissing the post.

Seconds later, the first goal was scored.

A Gartcairn defender handled the ball resulting in a penalty, which Hannah Stewart tucked past the keeper for 1-0.

Aberdeen started to find it easy shrugging off the defensive line with a couple of fast breaks. Kraft managed to find herself in a position to shoot 33 minutes in and, despite passing the keeper, saw her shot hit the woodwork.

In the 44th minute, Hannah Innes made an audacious effort from range in an attempt to double Aberdeen’s lead. The dipping shot was punched over by Skye Johnston for a corner.

Just before the half time whistle captain Stewart tried her hand at a long-range shot, this time flying just over the bar.

The skipper had the first opportunity of the second half, collecting a Thomson pass at the edge of the box before hitting her shot over.

In the 54th minute Stewart finally got her and Aberdeen’s second of the game.

Fran Ogilvie collected the ball on the left before making a darting run into the box. Spotting Stewart coming in from the right, she passed the ball along the goalmouth for the striker to tap the ball in.

Gartcairn didn’t let their heads drop and nearly found themselves grabbing a goal back in the 62nd minute, had it not been for Sidey to cleverly tap the shot away for a corner.

The last real opportunity of the game came in the 70th minute, when Sidey produced another clever save to prevent a Lawson consolation.

STATS:

Aberdeen: Sidey, Edwards (64), Noble (81), Gover, Stewart, Ogilvie, McEvoy, Innes (88), Thomson, Kraft (64), Black

Subs: McCann, Bruce (88), Jameison (64), Miller (64), MacPherson, Fraser, Maclean, Elder (81)

Gartcairn: Johnston, Healy (46), M. Wilson, Young (59), J. Wilson, McDonald-Nguah, Gray, Anderson (88), Jackson (78), Clemison, Lawson (88)

Subs: McPhie, Carter (46), Wands (8), Howie(8), Robb, Boyce, McDonald (59), Maxwell (78)