| EDINBURGH LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB |
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Aberdeen FC Ladies are mirroring the success of the Aberdeen FC men’s team in progressing to the semi-final stage of the equivalent Unite Scottish Cup.
Aberdeen have had a relatively easy path to the semi-final this year entering the competition in the 2nd round with a home tie against non-league side Orkney Women’s FC who they beat 19 -0. The third round saw them face 2nd division Paisley Saints away from home with another convincing 6 – 0 win which took the team into the more challenging task of beating fellow premier League opposition Raith Rovers.
They faced Sunday’s Quarter Final against the Kirkcaldy side knowing they had beaten them twice in the Premier League but also with injuries which kept Captain Rachel Hamill and top striker Nikki Wright from taking to the field. However the remaining squad proved strong enough to carry the side through.
Both sides attacked early with a chance just wide for the Dons and Raith winning a free kick 30 yards out which Taylor headed clear. For the Dons, Fitzpatrick came close early on, breaking through with only the keeper to beat but chipped wide. Aberdeen dominated pressing a couple of corners and a Corsie free kick hit over the bar while striker Stirling was giving the Raith defence a hard time with tricky dribbling.
Raith replied with a brief flurry, Bennett pushing forward but Young intercepted to gain possession again and it was 38 minutes before the visitors gained their first corner which was played in low and scrambled away for a goal kick.
Half Time Aberdeen 0 – Raith 0
Raith came out fighting with a shot just over the bar early on. They continued to have the upper hand for the early spell, Templeton pushing forward to threaten but Young did enough to quash the attack.
Small was instrumental in the breakthrough as she pushed to the Raith goal line to win a corner. Sent in by Stirling, CORSIE rose to head home cleanly eight minutes into the half.
Aberdeen had now started to gain the upper hand again as Raith pushed forward leaving gaps which Aberdeen exploited the pressure paying off with their second 15 minutes into the half. Small chased forward onto a diagonal pass from Taylor. She hit the line and crossed in to the box where it hit off a Raith defender and CORSIE pounced to gain her and Aberdeen’s second.
Raith threw everything at the game now getting players forward but Young and Taylor held firm in the centre of defence. Scott for Raith had a chance, latching onto a through ball and seemingly clean through on goal but Young appeared from nowhere to steal the ball off her.
Aberdeen pushed again with a corner cleared by Tyndal then a long ball into the box cleared out to Gauld who sent an attempt wide.
Raith’s Wheatley almost managed a late consolation goal collecting in the box but she sent a well hit shot wide of the left upright..
The management team were pleased with the team performance as a whole but singled out Susan Murray, Jenni Taylor, Lorna Young and Rachel Gauld for special praise for their part in the game on Sunday. The Ladies now await the draw for the semi-final to fnd out the opposition and venue for the game which will be played three days after the men’s semi-final.
Aberdeen Team :-
Allanah Chatham, Rachel Small Jenni, Taylor, Lorna Young, Susan Murray, Rachel Corsie, Rachel Gauld, Chloe Fitzpatrick, Claire Martin (Paula Scott), Sharon Scott, (Carolyn Hather), Melissa Stirling, (Neda Djahansouzi)