Reserves lose tight match to Raith
Glasgow City Reserves lost 6-5 yesterday in a nail biting, goal-filled match to Raith Rovers.
Newly promoted City, faced a tough encounter against Raith, one of the most experienced sides in the First Division after recent relegation from the Premier League saw the Glenrothes outfit out of the top flight for the first time in a number of years.
Throughout the game, the young City side showed arguably superior technical ability and skill, but in the end they were defeated by a strong side with a good attitude.
City took the lead on 8-minutes when Ciara Barnes angled a dangerous ball in behind the Rovers rearguard, which a Raith defender could do nothing but turn into her own net under pressure from City striker Lisa Evans. The goal settled City and within 10-minutes they had doubled their lead.
Lisa Evans showed superb pace and strength to get in behind the opposition defence and held off a late challenge to smash the ball high into the net.
With City 2-0 up, they then gifted an opportunity for Rovers to get back into the game, when City keeper Alana Chatham's punch failed to clear the box and the ball was smashed into her net from close range.
City’s frustration continued when despite the lack of any stoppages, the referee allowed play in the first half to extend into the 49th minute. Raith won a corner and poor marking at the front post allowed the Rovers number 2 to head home.
Half time 2-2
City started the second half strongly and put themselves back ahead, once more through striker Lisa Evans. The Scotland Under 19 international showed her quality and burst through the Rovers defence and with great composure slotted the ball under the keeper.
Fellow City striker Mel Stirling then extended the home side’s lead after driving down the right wing and placing a thunderous shot across the face of the goal and into the bottom corner.
With City now two goals ahead once more, the game should have been finished, but in the next 15-minute period the young City side were undone. To their credit, Raith Rovers played to their strengths and put good balls in behind the City defence. City struggled to cope with the directional play and in particular with the pace and strength of the Rovers forward who scored three similar goals with little effort. Raith then turned the tables on City and put themselves two ahead with another header from a corner.
With ten minutes remaining, City regrouped and piled on the pressure in the closing stages.
Lyndsey Anderson gave her side some hope after she chased down a long ball and showed great bravery to squeeze the ball past the on-rushing keeper to make it 5-6.
But in the dying minutes City couldn't find an equaliser.
Coach Kayleigh Cameron said: "I think we are all disappointed with the result and performance today. We were given a real lesson in First division football. We had all the ability to win the game comfortably but failed to do the simple things at times and really contributed to our own downfall. Take nothing away from Raith, at 4-2 down they could have given in as we were well on top but they plugged away and played to their own strengths. We have now tasted defeat for the first time in a long time, none of us liked it so hopefully we can move forward quickly and learn from it."
24.08.09
