City Reserves win opening match
Glasgow City Reserves opened their account in the First Division with a 7-1 win over the new Hearts Ladies in Edinburgh.
City started well and dominated the opening spell of the match, coping admirably with the windy conditions, keeping the ball down and passing with confidence.
Sarah Major went close on a couple of occasions in the opening period, but City eventually took the lead on 25 mins courtesy of Mel Stirling. Following some good combination play with Major, Stirling struck a well hit shot from the edge of the box to put her side in front.
Stirling then added a second, with an almost carbon copy of the first. Linking up well with Major again she hit a great shot into the far top corner to make it 2-0 to City.
The away side nearly made it three but midfielder Marni Russell saw her effort clip the outside of the post and striker Lyndsey Anderson also went agonisingly close to opening her account for the season. However, City did take a 3-0 lead into the half time break and it was Stirling on the scoresheet again to secure her hat-trick.
Some nice play between Stirling and Lisa Evans saw Evans break free down the left and she cut the ball back from the by-line to Stirling to score from close range.
Half time 3-0.
Within the first ten minutes of the second half, Hearts got a goal back courtesy of a penalty after City defender Iona Colville was adjudged to have fouled in the box. City then found themselves penned back in their own half for the next ten minutes as they struggled to cope with strong wind against them. Hearts came close to making it 3-2, but City's Alanna Chatham pulled off an excellent save down to her bottom right to preserve her side's two goal cushion.
Midway through the second half City controlled the game once more and deservedly added another with Lisa Evans rounding the keeper and scoring with ease after being set up by Stilrling. With twenty minutes remaining, Evans got her second of the match and her side's fifth after linking up really well again with Stirling down the right hand side.
City made it 6-1 with a thunderous strike from midfielder Ciara Barnes from twenty yards and Stirling capped a fine display with her fourth goal of the game. The City striker took the ball just inside the Hearts half, beat two defenders and finished past the keeper into the bottom corner.
Full time 7-1.
City Boss Kayleigh Cameron was delighted with her side. She said, "Today was a realy good win. It was obviously our opening match in the First Division and I was proud of every player, they all played their part today. We looked sharp and fit and that shows the work they have been putting in is starting to pay off. We had a really good team spirit about us and hopefully we can take that into the rest of the season."
16.08.09
