Match Reports - Aberdeen v Hutchison Vale

Aberdeen played their last home game of the season again with a scarce squad due to suspension and injury. With regular keeper Chatham still unavailable, Jenni Taylor picked up the gloves again with a promise of an outfield run if the Dons were well in the lead, she needn’t have worried.

Hutchy started brightly with an attack but it was snuffed out and Aberdeen replied winning a corner. Played in by Martin it was cleared briefly before Hather returned it for Martin to head onto the crossbar for an early warning of things to come.

After six minutes of constant pressure Aberdeen opened as a defender failed to clear a high bounce and STIRLING hussled her off the ball before sliding her first into the net. On twelve minutes the second came with WRIGHT in an individual effort, winning the break of a tackle, before placing the ball past keeper Cowan.

The visitors pushed forward on the right via Wales and Welch but the defence was untroubled mopping up the advance. More chances for the Dons, Martin rifling a right footer which the keeper held well in the air, a free kick from Murray hit over the bar and a shot from Bradford which went over the goal line but wasn’t given.

The one way traffic continued, Hather’s shot tipped over the bar for a corner which Wright volleyed over the bar from close range. Vale pushed forward with a short spell of pressure but as Aberdeen broke lose a forward pass went to STIRLING who left the defence behind and slipped it past the keeper.

Aberdeen would have been further ahead but for some fine saves from Vale’s stand in keeper before Bradford had here second ball in the net this time disallowed for offside. On 22 minutes her persistence paid off pressuring the keeper into a mistake, her clearance breaking off BRADFORD who was left with an empty net to find.

On the odd occasion Hutchy broke forward Aberdeen worked hard to break down the moves and they left themselves vulnerable as STIRLING again ran onto a long clearance she was tracked by McIntyre but strode forward and despite the keeper getting a touch earned her hat-trick.

On the stroke of half time with Hutchy unable to clear their lines, Fitzpatrick placed a lob forward for MARTIN to control and sink into the net,

At half time Bradford replaced Taylor in goals allowing her back outfield at as promised at right back and Corsie replacing Hather. Hutchy’s Bruce pushed forward early making the Reds defence worked hard, jinking about in the box before the home side cleared. Then again on the break Corsie ran clear firing straight at the keeper who had a good stop and Stirling put the rebound wide.

Hutchy were battling more this half winning their first corner cleared by Taylor’s head for a second flag kick. This time it dropped low, Taylor, seemingly reluctant to give up her role as stopper, clearing it off the line.

Scott found Fitzpatrick who sent it down the line to Wright who forced a right footer just past the post then Vale replied winning a free kick 35 yards out. Taken by Bruce it hit the wall then a lob in was cleared by McArthur.

A clearance from Taylor to Stirling was taken up the line before she crossed but too high for Wright and too short for Martin at the back post. More pressure from the visitors with a corner on the right which was met at the front post by Hamill then cleared.

On the break Corsie threatened with a shot at the keeper then Wright picked up and crossed in. MARTIN picked up the deflection from Manson and fired into the right hand side.

Still fighting Hutchy pressed again Donald taking a run up the left. Taylor blocked her cross and the resultant corner was mopped up and cleared to WRIGHT who sprinted forward, took it past the keeper and passed into the net.

A play up the left took the Hutchy defence wide before play was switched to CORSIE on her own on the right who attacked and hit the back of the net and Aberdeen’s final goal came with STIRLING receiving a long ball and striking hard past the helpless keeper.

Aberdeen Team – Jenni Taylor, Caroline Hather (Rachel Corsie), Rachel Hamill, Marnie McArthur, Paula Scott, Shireen Bradford, Susan Murray, Chloe Fitzpatrick, Claire Martin, Nikki Wright, Melissa Stirling