City suffer Euro hangover
Glasgow City suffered a Euro hangover today dropping two points at home to Hibernian after a 2-2 finish.
On a rain soaked pitch in strong winds, this was a difficult match for both sides. However, it was hesitancy and not conditions which gave City their first opportunity, when Hibs and Scottish internationalist Rhonda Jones took too long on the ball allowing City striker Ruesha Littlejohn an effort on goal, which Gemma Fay in the Hibs net did well to block, rushing from her line to avert the danger.
City did open the scoring midway through the first half when an excellent cross from Katharina Lindner met the onrushing Sue Lappin to guide the ball in from close range at the back post. Within ten minutes Hibs responded when a long ball evaded the City defence allowing Hibs midfielder Stacey Cook to hit a well taken first time volley into the City net.
The home side then went agonisingly close to restoring their lead through Leanne Ross. Cutting inside her marker, Ross hit a tremendous shot on the turn from 25 yards, but with Fay beaten, Ross saw her effort cannon off the cross bar and away to safety. Ross then had another chance and with Fay off her line tried to lob the ball over and into the empty net. However, good pressure from the Hibs defence meant Ross had to rush her effort and the ball ended up just wide of the post.
Half time 1-1.
At the restart City were forced to reshuffle with first choice keeper Angie Livingstone forced to go off with ankle ligament damage and Laura Williamson came on in her place.
Midway through the second half City restored their lead through Sue Lappin, when the midfielder got her second of the day. A free kick from Leanne Ross was delivered into a crowded Hibs penalty box and Lappin rose above everyone else, to direct her header powerfully past the Hibs and Scotland Number One Fay.
With few chances now falling either way for both sides in difficult conditions, City thought they had won the match, but within minutes of the restart poor concentration cost Glasgow City dearly. Once more a long ball from the Hibs rearguard found its way into the City penalty box and with no-one marking her, Cook was able to once more put her side level with a close range finish past the diving Williamson in the City net.
City boss Peter Caulfield was disappointed. He said, “We looked tired today. I feared we may be a little jaded with so many intense games in short a short space of time between the Celtic semi-final, our three matches in Europe and this one today. However, we were in the lead twice and when you are in front you can only throw it away which is what we did today. To lose the second goal so soon after we took the lead once more, was criminal. However, the League is not decided this early on in the season. We wanted three points, but given the fixture calendar we have had over the past couple of weeks, a point is far from a disaster.”
19.10.08
