City head into the semi-finals in style
Glasgow City demolished Hamilton Accies 11-0 to move into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup this afternoon at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie, writes Graham Semple.
Doubles from Eilish McSorley, Courtney Whyte, Denise O’Sullivan and Susan Fairlie, in addition to goals from Morgan Marlborough, Suzanne Lappin and Julie Nelson, gave City an emphatic win, much to the delight of Head Coach Eddie Wolecki Black.
He said, “Cup ties are about one thing and that's about getting into the next round. Firstly I am delighted we are through to the semi-final draw. However the pleasing thing is that we have managed to achieve that by turning in an excellent performance. The build-up play was done at a tempo that suited us, our combination play was of a high standard and the variety of chances we created was great to watch. Courtney Whyte’s second goal was a superb finish but the build-up to the goal was as good as I have seen from us. We have once again returned another clean sheet at Airdrie and that adds to our confidence. We can look forward to the cup draw at Hampden and now have a full week to prepare for the visit to Rangers in a top of the table clash.”
City were quick out of the traps and a goal in front after just 40 seconds when a Whyte corner was nodded home at the near post by McSorley. Lappin and O’Sullivan then had headers off target as City pressed and harried their overwhelmed opponents.
The second goal arrived after ten minutes when a clever pass by Lauren McMurchie found Emma Black whose cut-back from the byeline presented Marlborough with the simple task of guiding the ball into the net: 2-0.
The game was predominantly played in the Hamilton half as the visitors struggled to cope with the unrelenting wave of City attacks. The cup holders notched their third goal of the game with less than 20 minutes on the clock when a cross from Abbi Grant was headed into the net by Lappin.
Marlborough was inches away from grabbing her second goal of the match when her shot clattered off the post, however City did not have long to wait for the fourth goal. After 23 minutes a 25 yard left-foot thunderbolt from Whyte flew into the net past the outstretched Hamilton goalkeeper, Megan Cunningham.
Hamilton managed to put up some resistance in the last 20 minutes of the first period and occasionally ventured up the pitch. Carolina Richardson had the visitors’ best attempt after 41 minutes when she wriggled clear of the City defence however her effort was well saved by the alert Niki Deiter.
City continued in the search for more goals in the second period and the fifth goal came after 47 minutes. Another excellent set-piece delivery from Whyte found the unmarked Nelson, and the defender expertly found the net.
Four minutes later it was 6-0. A patient team move – which included great interplay between Marlborough and O’Sullivan – was finished off nicely by the Republic of Ireland internationalist.
O’Sullivan was at it again two minutes later. Black, a constant menace down the City right, delivered a pinpoint cross for the Excelsior Stadium and Football Centre Player of the Match to bullet home a header and nab her second goal of the game.
Lappin and Nicky Docherty both came close to adding further goals before the eighth arrived. Marlborough unselfishly squared to substitute Fairlie to edge the ball home from close range with a Hamilton defender in close attendance. It could have been an own goal but Fairlie was given the credit.
With thirteen minutes remaining a cushioned header from Marlborough was lashed into the net by the onrushing Whyte to complete her brace and make it 9-0.
With time running out City added a further two goals. McSorley slammed home the tenth to ensure a double-digit margin of victory, and in injury-time Fairlie followed up a stinging drive from Marlborough to score after the goalkeeper had parried to complete the rout.
This was a superb display from City. They took the game to their shell-shocked opponents and turned on the style. Their passing was crisp and their forward play exceptional as they hit top gear at a crucial time of the season.
Next up for City is an away game against Rangers at Petershill Park next Sunday.
Joining Glasgow City in the Scottish Cup semi-final draw are Spartans, Hibernian and Aberdeen.
Teams:
Glasgow City: Deiter, McMurchie, McSorley, O’Sullivan (Boyce 84), Lappin, Whyte, Docherty, Black (c), Grant (Fairlie 64), Nelson (McCulloch 67), Marlborough
Subs Not Used: Alexander, Love, Crichton, Brown
Hamilton Accies: Cunningham, McGuire, Gemmell, Donnelly, Halliday, Hogg (c), Sloey, Inglis, Richardson, Black (McGill 83), McLeod
Subs Not Used: Fleming
Excelsior Stadium and Football Centre Player of the Match: Denise O’Sullivan
Action pictures by Graeme Berry. A full picture report will follow on our facebook. Top to bottom: Abbi Grant
and Suzanne Lappin congratulate Courtney Whyte on her first goal; Morgan Marlborough in action; Abbi Grant congratulates Suzanne Lappin on goal number 3 for City.
Bottom - Match Sponsor's Player of the Match Denise O'Sullivan is presented with a bottle of bubbly by Heather Allan from the Excelsior Stadium
