Glasgow City defeat Forfar to top the table
Glasgow City made it three wins out of three in the Scottish Women’s Premier League, with a 5-1 win over Forfar Farmington at Petershill Park to move to the top of the SWPL in a match sponsored by City fan Kathleen Stevenson.
Forfar took the lead through Caroline Heron, but doubles from Suzanne Malone and Sue Lappin, along with a Julie Melrose strike ensured a comfortable City win, to the content of First Team Assistant Coach Donald Jennow.
He said, “Once again we put ourselves in a bit of trouble missing so many chances early in the game. Forfar meanwhile had one clear opportunity to score and took it, but the reaction to us from going a goal behind was fantastic. In the second half, I thought we were excellent. We controlled the game, created lots of chances and most importantly didn’t give any away.”
The home side started very strongly and with only 2 minutes gone, City almost opened the scoring after Sue Lappin laid the ball off to Suzanne Malone at the edge of the box, but the City striker’s well placed shot into the bottom corner was turned around the post for a corner by Forfar debutant keeper Ellie Welton.
From the resultant set piece City centre half Eilish McSorley cracked a header off the underside of the cross bar. With Forfar unable to fully clear the danger, City’s attack put them under further pressure until forward Sarah Crilly lashed the ball over from a few yards out after good cross from McSorley.
Ruesha Littlejohn was next to try her luck but took too long and Welton saved for the visitors.
It was constant pressure on the Forfar back line in the opening period and ten minutes into the game City and Scotland mifielder Jo Love had a moment she may wish to forget as she somehow side footed wide when through on Forfar’s goal with the keeper beaten. Sarah Crilly was clean through and as Welton came out she passed to Love who somehow shot wide the empty net gaping.
Another disappointing attempt let Forfar off the hook once more when Malone shot wide with again only Welton to beat.
On 21 minutes against the run of play Forfar punished the home side for their missed chances as Caroline Heron scored from close range. However, within 60 seconds of the restart, City got themselves level as Suzanne Malone shot high into the top corner from the edge of the box with Welton unable to keep her effort out.
Aimee Godfrey had a rare chance at the back post for the visitors but shot wide.
Just before the half hour mark Suzanne Malone got her second of the match to put City in front with a well placed finish into the bottom corner and ten minutes before the break, Ruesha Littlejohn hit a left foot shot just past Welton’s right hand post.
Half time Glasgow City 2 – 1 Forfar Farmington.
In the second period, City continued their dominance and on 61 minutes, Sue Lappin rose highest to head home a City corner as the home side mounted intense pressure on the Forfar goalmouth with a series of corners.
Three minutes later and Lappin got her second of the match as she timed her run brilliantly to meet a great set piece delivery from Leanne Ross after a City free kick out wide midway into the Forfar half.
Robertson showed her strength in the air soon after as she powered an unstoppable header towards goal, which to Forfar’s relief came crashing back off the post. Littlejohn reacted first to the rebound, but Welton saved the City forward’s effort.
The tide of City attacks continued with Lappin meeting a Leanne Ross cross with her head once again, but this time her effort went just wide of the target.
Suzanne Malone was denied a hat-trick on 75 minutes with Welton saving well with her feet but with less than five minutes of regular time remaining City finally got their fifth of the match as substitute Julie Melrose turned in a Nicky Docherty cross at the edge of the 6 yard box, to make the final score, Glasgow City 5 -1 Forfar Farmington.
Pictures by Andy Buist. From top to bottom- Suzanne Malone scores her 2nd of the match; Ruesha Littlejohn powers into the Forfar penalty area, Suzanne Lappin rises highest to head home a City corner for number three; Julie Melrose shows her delight as she fires number five into the back of the net; Nicky Docherty proudly picks up the sponsors Player of the Match from Kathleen Stevenson. A full picture report will follow in time on our facebook page @Glasgowcity.Fc
31.03.13
