Edinburgh
4 ... Queen's Park 1
MCWHINNIE DOES THE
TRICK FOR EDINBURGH
Debbie
McWhinnie fired in a hat-trick and Diana Barry added a fourth goal as
Edinburgh secured their quarter-final place in the Amicus Scottish Cup
with a 4-1 win over First Division Queen’s Park. “It was an
excellent performance,” says Edinburgh boss Carson Ralton. “We maybe
missed a few chances which was a wee bit disappointing but overall I was
delighted. We kept possession, passed the ball well and kept our shape
well too.”
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FULL PHOTO REPORT HERE
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Valiant
Spiders lose to Edinburgh
Having
had no fixture last week, Queens Park were looking forward to the
Scottish Cup third round match against Premier League Edinburgh. With
zero pressure upon the young Spiders shoulders, they travelled through
to the quagmire of St Marks Park looking forward to the game immensely.
In
the changing room before the game, the girls were well briefed as to the
nature of their task, but Bryson and Dylan Kerr were well pleased with
the players reactions and attentiveness before the game as well as the
intensity of their warm up. Goalkeeper Kate Lagan was put through her
paces well by Vinny Bryson, and she would be required as early as the
second minute when she dealt with a Debbie McWhinnie piledriver by
confidently tipping it over the bar.
Unfortunately, McWhinie would be given another, far easier opportunity
when a bobbling backpass skimmed off Lagans foot and landed at her feet
to make it 1-0.
But the Spiders were up for the challenge. Every tackle, every pass,
every header and every kick was fiercely contested by both teams. Cheryl
McCulloch, still on a high after inclusion into the Scotland U19 squad,
was leading the line superbly for Queens, not giving Edinburgh any time
on the ball at all and forcing them to either punt long or give away
throw ins deep in their own territory.
After forcing a corner, Spiders Rock Lorna Gray looked certain to have
nailed her first of the season but it somehow stayed out, allowing a
fast breakaway from the Edinburgh side which saw goalkeeper Kate Lagan
produce an outstanding save from Diana Barry’s shot. Unfortunately, a
sliced clearance from Michelle Pasnik landed again at Debbie McWhinnie's
feet and she scored from less than 1 yard out.
But the Spiders are mentally tough. With characters such as skipper
Lesley Condie, Terri Donnelly, Lorna Gray, Michelle Pasnik, Jennifer
Beattie, Christie Murray and Cheryl McCulloch in the team, and a
goalkeeper on the form Kate Lagan is in just now, they were always going
to threaten.
In at halftime with a 2-0 deficit, Bryson, Wilson and Kerr pointed out
the only reason Edinburgh had scored 2 goals was because they had been
gifted them. Not once had Edinburgh ripped the Spiders open, or piled on
top for 25-30 minutes. A lack of concentration on 2 isolated incidents
and probably a little bit of time to get used to top-level opponents had
forced theses errors, but there was a real positivity about the coming
half.
And positive the Spiders were. In midfield, Jenny Beattie raised her
game to a different level from the first half, as did her diminutive
partner in the engine room, Michelle Pasnik. Cheryl McCulloch somehow
found another even higher gear and posed real problems for Edinburgh.
Nicola Barbour and Lesley Condie started to provide some real attacking
threat down the left, and young Tigger Kirkwood began to combine with
Sara Paterson down the right to offer some real penetration behind the
Edinburgh back four.
And the hard work ethic paid off handsomely. Cheryl McCullochs attitude
of “never say die” has been a facet to her game since day 1 of this
season, and when she barged down 4 attempted clearances and made 2
tackles before driving into the box and squaring for Jenny Beattie to
make it 2-1 in 57 minutes, the Spiders tails were up and ten more
minutes of solid pressure followed.
Beattie found herself inside the 6 yard box and went for goal when
Cheryl McCulloch was better placed at the back post, but if you’re
inside the 6, you go for goal and Jenny was unlucky to see it go wide.
This was Queens best chance to equalise, and at this level chances need
to be taken. Unfortunately, Edinburgh were the side to prove this cliché,
as McWhinnie got away from Tiger Kirkwood only once during the game, and
the experienced Scotland player took full advantage to make it 3-1.
But the Spiders never gave up. They pressed and pressed, with both
Michelle Pasnik and Jennifer Beattie attempting long range efforts but
the game petered out after a head knock saw an ambulance called for a
head injury to the Edinburgh centre back. All at Queens Park send their
best wishes for a speedy recovery.
One more error saw Edinburgh make it 4-1, a scoreline which really
flattered the hosts, but it bodes well for the rest of Queens Park’s
season if they can perform to this level against a top Premier Side.
Vinny Bryson was full of praise for his young side.
“I
felt after a hard first 5 minutes we competed very well with a strong,
quick Edinburgh side for most of the game. They have some excellent
players throughout their squad and are where they are on merit. Our
players really forced Edinburgh to play at capacity, they showed in
parts why they are in 3rd spot in the Premier League, and best of luck
to them for the rest of the season. However, I am extremely proud of my
players for competing well at this level, hopefully we’ll be back here
on league duty next season if all goes to plan!”
This week sees 5 Spiders on International Duty for Scotland U19’s.
Terri Donnelly, Cheryl McCulloch, Jennifer Beattie, Stephanie Handley
and Lauren MacMillan all take the best wishes of their comrades into the
double-header against Finland at McDiarmid Park in Perth on Tuesday and
Thursday.
Queens
Park match report - 5th. March 2007
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