City remain top after tight game
Glasgow City remain top of the table after a nail biting win over Edinburgh tonight.
City took the lead in the middle of the first half after a good free kick from full back Leeanne Campbell was met expertly by the head of Suzanne Lappin in the Edinburgh box. The first 45 minutes ended one nil for City, but they had to reshuffle just before the half time whistle when Captain Laura Montgomery was forced to withdraw through injury. With limited options available, striker Katharina Lindner had to be pulled into left back; Jayne Sommerville was moved to centre half. Forward Ruesha Littlejohn came on for the injured Montgomery to take up her usual attacking position.
At the start of the second half, with City still adopting to the change, Edinburgh scored the equaliser, when Diana Barry pulled free in the box to hit her close range effort past Laura Williamson in the City goal. Edinburgh then shocked the home side when they went in front following an excellent header from Claire Crosbie as she evaded her marker to meet a Debbie McWhinnie corner.
City were shell shocked but dug in deep and hit back through striker Littlejohn. With less than fifteen minutes remaining, City were pushing hard for the win, but a wonder strike from Debbie McWhinnie restored Edinburgh with a 3-2 lead.
With time now firmly against them, City were pushing forward at every opportunity and their pressure paid off when a cross ball was handled inside the Edinburgh box, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Leeanne Campbell stepped up to take the pressure spot kick and duly converted to make it 3-3 with only a couple of minutes remaining.
Once again City bombarded the Edinburgh defence and it looked almost as though time was against them. However, in the last minute their persistence paid off when a cross from Suzanne Malone was calmly slotted past the Edinburgh keeper by Suzanne Lappin to make City run out 4-3 winners.
City boss Peter Caulfield was ecstatic after the win. He said, “I thought for a long time this wasn’t going to be our night. When we lost Laura in the middle of defence we had to re-shape and move players into the areas they don’t normally play. But we dug deep and fought right to the final whistle. Our perseverance and never say die attitude won us this game tonight and I am delighted with this tremendous win. I am very proud of all the players.”
20/09/07
