Glasgow City overcome a gritty Dons 2-0
Glasgow City battled past a gritty Aberdeen side to secure a 2-0 victory in this afternoon’s SWPL match at Petershill Park.
A double from Suzanne Lappin (16 & 48) ensured the champions’ perfect start to the season continued as they maintained their position at the top of the league.
In a slow opening to the match chances were at a premium. Gradually, though, City began to lay siege to their opponents’ goal and soon enjoyed a period of sustained pressure. After a Leanne Ross effort had been deflected wide, the home side had four corners in a row, but were unable to capitalise.
After a quarter of an hour, and with their fifth corner of the game, City took the lead. Pinpoint accuracy from Ross found Lappin in space and she bulleted her header past the helpless Rebecca Flaherty in the Aberdeen goal.
City almost doubled their lead after 27 minutes. Ross latched on to a superbly-weighted long pass over the top from Nicky Docherty but she sent her effort wide of the post. With the first- half petering out, Eilish McSorley sent a long distance speculative effort wide of the goal.
The second-half began in explosive fashion. The away side, who had struggled to create anything of note, began to exert pressure on the City goal and came close to levelling the score. Fay McDonald rose to meet an Aberdeen corner but her headed effort hit the post and into the arms of the grateful Lee Alexander.
City responded immediately by launching a swift counter-attack. Ross was played in on the right but was brilliantly denied by the Aberdeen goalkeeper. Seconds later, though, Lappin notched her second goal of the match. The unmarked number 10 superbly brought the ball under control in the box before intelligently directing the ball into the corner of the net.
The home side were unfortunate not to get a penalty after 55 minutes when the ball appeared to strike the arm of an Aberdeen defender in the box, but referee, Angela McLuckie, waved played on – much to the frustration of those in orange.
With a two goal buffer, City were in complete control. Abbi Grant saw an effort saved by Flaherty before Player of the Match Jo Love’s curling effort was tipped round the post. Ross almost made it three with 10 minutes to go, but she leaned back and blazed over. Further attempts by Leanne Crichton and Ross again could not add to the score as the match finished 2-0.
Aberdeen are a capable outfit, and with a number of talented players, but while they are to be applauded for competing hard with City, they were always second best in this contest. City bossed this match almost from start to finish and their strength, skill and discipline proved too much for their northern rivals.
Commenting on the match, City Head Coach, Eddie Wolecki Black said, “We are happy to get the three points and another clean sheet. We tried a different formation today to see how things would work and also to allow us to get a good look at Aberdeen for next week’s Cup Semi-Final. Today was what I expected, Aberdeen to be stuffy and hard to beat. It was not a great performance from us but we managed to dig out the three points and I am happy with that.”
Glasgow City and Aberdeen will meet again next Sunday in the Premier League Cup Semi-Final at Recreation Park, Alloa, 3pm.
Glasgow City: L Alexander, N Docherty, E Black, J Nelson, E McSorley, S Lappin (McCulloch 69), L Ross, J Love, L Crichton, F Brown (Whyte 90), A Grant.
Subs: L Hamilton (GK), D, Dalziel
Aberdeen: R Flaherty, R Small, C Fitzpatrick, L Campbell, C Cowper, S Murray, N Wright, R Dempster, C Anderson, M Aitkenhead, F McDonald.
Subs: L Sangster, K MacKenzie, H Stewart, C Grimshaw, S Milne
Referee: Angela McLuckie
Match report by Graham Semple.
Pictures by Graeme Berry: Top to Bottom – Suzanne Lappin heads City into the lead, Leanne Ross in possession, POM Jo Love with City fan Sarah Coutts. A full picture report from the match will follow on our facebook page www.facebook.com/FCGlasgowCity
04.05.14
