Match Reports - Aberdeen v Arsenal North

Aberdeen picked up another valuable 3 points on Sunday in a home win against Arsenal North Ladies in the Thompson’s Premier League.

The Glasgow side gave notice of their intentions as they broke forward from the kick off, Dominick receiving and jinking to the right to send a shot past the right hand post. Aberdeen fought back with a couple of free kicks just outside the box but Arsenal dealt with them effectively. On 16 minutes Arsenal had the ball in the net but Quigg was well offside.

Seconds later a chance for Aberdeen, Corsie charged to the touchline and stroked it to Stirling who crossed low into the box and Martin was unlucky not to nick it into the net on the far post.

Then against the run of play an error at the back between Farquhar and Hather saw a pass intercepted by Arsenal’s Seagrave who broke forward to hit the net on 18 minutes.

Aberdeen fought back in a blistering 5 minute spell winning a corner, sent in by Corsie to Murray who forced a parried corner from the keeper. Delivered to the 6 yard box the second corner was headed in by WRIGHT to equalise on 24 minutes. Martin won a free kick 30 yards out which was sent up the line to Scott who had charged from left back to send in a low cross which MURRAY tapped in for Aberdeen’s second on 27 minutes.

Two minutes later a wide ball to Stirling who dodged around before crossing into the path of WRIGHT who placed Aberdeen’s third from 6 yards.

Scott was working hard and a couple of key tackles broke down an Arsenal move before she passed forward to Wright who forced a finger tip save from the keeper.

Arsenal seemed on the back foot but won a free kick wide on the right on 18 yards but Taylor intercepted with a header for Corsie to clear.

Another half chance for the Reds with a pass from Hather to Corsie who sent an up and under into the box which the keeper struggled with but Wright sent it high over the bar. Then a long pass forward from Scott to Wright who chipped onto the crossbar then Corsie put the rebound over the bar. Wright and Corsie again had a double act as Wright forced a block from the keeper for Corsie to head over the bar.

Arsenal were not sitting back fighting well and approaching half time a wide ball played a out to the right was centred for DOMINICK to slip into the net. Thirty seconds later Aberdeen were lucky as Arsenal broke through again and were unlucky as they shot over the bar from close range.

Aberdeen pressed from the start and won a free kick which was played in to the six yard line and bounced awkwardly but Corsie was unable to nod it over the keeper who parried for a corner.

Two minutes in a throw in from Arsenal on their left went to loose player QUIGG who turned well to break forward and went one on one with keeper Hutcheson to level the score.

Aberdeen were working hard in defence at this point but Murray picked up and played long to Stirling who crossed low and hard but just too far in front of the waiting Wright.

A free kick for Arsenal was played in to the edge of the box to Quigg but Aberdeen’s Hather held it up and played it for a throw. Arsenal continued to press with a spell in the Aberdeen half but the home side were working hard to break down each attack.

In a dress rehearsal for the winning goal Stirling collected a pass wide on the right then cut inside to fire a shot wide of the right upright. Thirty seconds later a powerful header forward from Taylor was nudged wide by Martin to STIRLING who, in a duplicate move, made no mistake to put the Dons ahead again.

A clumsy tackle won Arsenal a free kick wide on the left which was wasted, played straight to the keeper for an easy catch. The visitors finished with a spell of pressure sending long balls forward to their strikers but the central defence of Taylor and Farquhar held out well. Still on the attack though Aberdeen’s Martin won a ball in midfield and passed to Wright who under pressure shot and hit the bar and then Corsie latched onto a pass and headed over the bar.

Jo Hutcheson, Carolyn Hather (Rachel Small) Vikki Farquhar, Jenni Taylor, Paula Scott, Rachel Corsie, Susan Murray, Rachel Hamill, Claire Martin, Nikki Wright, Mellissa Stirling (Shireen Bradford)

Adele Anderson, Chloe Fitzpatrick, Mirka Feregova, Marnie McArthur

Two in a Row!