Match Reports - Forfar v Aberdeen

The Reds notched up their first league win of the season after travelling to Forfar for the Thomson’s Premier League on Sunday. Aberdeen started brightly, Martin immediately testing the home keeper with a blistering shot which she parried and dived on to save. Again Martin pushed up the left wing and crossed but no Reds were on the end. Forfar countered from a throw nodded on to Garret but Dons keeper Hutcheson was quick to snatch it off her feet. The home team were pushing hard, threatening via the nippy MacFarlane and Brogan who were chasing a succession of long balls but Hutcheson was alert with several clearances.

A long ball from Aberdeen saw Stirling and Wright combine well before passing wide to Murray who crossed but the Forfar defence were first to it to clear. A free kick from the half way line, sent long, was flicked on by Stirling to Wright but Forfar’s, Scotland U19 keeper, McNicoll dived at her feet to rescue the ball. On 26 minutes Stirling slipped a pass from the left into WRIGHT who went one on one with the keeper and fired a hard shot past the keeper to put the Dons ahead.

The injured Stirling was then substituted by Bradford and on 29 minutes Aberdeen made it two as Hamill picked up in the middle passing forward. Under pressure the Forfar keeper failed to clear and WRIGHT stole the ball and trundled it into the net. Another clear chance was denied as Corsie took it to the line and dribbled inside and passed to the 6 yard line but Forfar were sharp to clear.

The visitors attacked from the kick off with Wright and Corsie pushing forward well then right-back Small sprinted forward from the defence to the goal line before crossing and forcing a parried corner at the near post from keeper McNicoll. On 52 minutes, hard work from Murray in the midfield won the ball which was slipped to CORSIE on the right. In a contender for goal of the season she raced forward from halfway, wrong footing two Forfar players, before curling a left footer from 25 yards into the top left corner of the net giving the keeper no chance.

Three minutes later a long through ball saw WRIGHT dash forward and under pressure from the centre back slotted a pass into the net to get her hat trick and Aberdeen’s fourth. Seemingly spurned on by the fourth goal Forfar pushed hard via Davidson and Emily Phillips on the right working from a throw to get the ball into MacFarlane but Aberdeen cleared. The home side were piling on some pressure in midfield as Aberdeen sat back a little but the defence were working hard snuffing out any attack.

Forfar substitute Emily Phillips made several penetrating runs up the right but invariably finished with a shot wide of the mark. Forfar continued to dominate as Aberdeen were content to soak up pressure and then break on the attack. Phillips again shot from a free kick but keeper Hutcheson caught easily. The Forfar pressure continued forcing several corners but Hutcheson and the defence got the better each time.

Aberdeen freshened up the midfield with Anderson and Fitzpatrick with 15 minutes to go as Forfar pressed getting their best chance from a corner. The ball dropped and in the scramble rolled towards goal but youngster Small managed to clear it off the line to keep a clean sheet for Aberdeen.

Jo Hutcheson, Rachel Small, Jenni Taylor, Vicki Farquhar, Paula Scott, Rachel Corsie (Chloe Fitzpatrick), Susan Murray (Adele Anderson), Rachel Hamill, Claire Martin, Melissa Stirling (Shireen Bradford), Nikki Wright

Dons Notch Up First Win

A hat-trick from Nikki Wright and a goal from Rachel Corsie ensured “elated” Aberdeen’s 4-0 win over Forfar.

“I’m really pleased with the team performance,” says Dons boss Rob Ritchie. “We battled well and thoroughly deserved the result.”