City lift Umbro Cup
Glasgow City lifted the Umbro Cup in Manchester for the second time in three years after triumphing at the UK's most prestigious women's football tournament.
Despite being crowned winners, City left extremely disappointed as the tournament was cut short due to health and safety issues with a car park.
City got off to a good start on the first day with three wins out of three in their Elite Cup group section.
With each match only 40 minutes, long, it is crucial to get off to a good start and City did just that scoring in the first period against Liverpool in their opening match. Playing striker, City’s Leanne Ross hit a well timed 30 yard drive into the back of the net to put her side into a lead. Midfielder Claire Gemmell had earlier gone close for City, but her overhead kick came back off the post.
In the second half, young City centre-half Eilish McSorley scored her first ever goal for first team, when she volleyed into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after Sue Lappin had set her up.
Glasgow City 2 -0 Liverpool
City’s second match of the tournament was against Manchester City and goals from Jane Ross and Sue Lappin (2), gave City a comfortable 3-0 win. All three City strikes in this game were impressive, but City’s second goal was of a standard good enough to grace any competition. A quite brilliant 50 yard pass from Leanne Ross, released Jane Ross down the right and the City striker beat the full back before firing a bullet cross to Sue Lappin who powered her header into the back of the net.
Glasgow City 3 – 0 Manchester City
City’s final match of the first day was against Curzton Ashton, but a poor City start gave Ashton a surprise lead. However, City soon struck back and goals from Eilish McSorley, an Ashton on goal and a left foot strike from Ruesha Littlejohn ensured City finished with all three points with their 3-1 win.
Glasgow City 3 -1 Curzton Ashton
On the final day, City faced Preston and once again the Scottish Champions maintained their 100% record, defeating the English side 2-0 courtesy of strikes from Katharina Lindner and Clare Gemmell.
Glasgow City 2 - 0 Preston
City's win over Preston ensured an emphatic top table position guaranteeing progression to the semi-finals. However, to the shock of all participants, the tournament organisers abandoned the tournament and awarded City with the winners trophy as the only team in the Elite section to win every group match.
Despite the win, City boss Peter Caulfield was not happy. He said, "We came here to play a tournament against some of the country's top sides. That does not just mean group games, but also a semi-finals and hopefully a final. We have been coming to this tournament for years and up until now we have always held it in high regard. Yes, we played well and I am delighted, but myself, Eddie (Wolecki) and the players are all extremely disappointed at the way it has ended. If I am honest, we have always looked to this tournament as an important part of our pre-season preparation. From next year, this will now be reviewed."
27.07.09
