Match Reports - Glasgow City v Aberdeen

In a rehearsal of next weeks Scottish Cup tie Aberdeen travelled to Glasgow to play 2nd place Premier League team Glasgow City. A tactical change saw Aberdeen move to a 3 5 2 formation from the normal 4 4 2.

City started as they would go on pushing hard into the Aberdeen half but The Dons had a half chance two minutes, a Hamill ball picking out Wright. Closely marked she slipped a pass in front of goal but just too far in front of Bradford. City’s Lindner gave early notice of her intentions, breaking up the left turning Hather twice before crossing to Ross who struck well past the post. Then from the left a long throw came into the box to LAPPIN who had hardly to jump to head the first home on 7 minutes.

City continued pressing, Lappin seeking out Fernon and Lindner on either wing to keep the game wide. Then she made a solo run from midfield, edging a pass to McGovern who forced a corner off Corsie. Sent to the back post it was cleared for a second corner which HOGG headed in unchallenged for their second on 13 minutes.

The Reds attacked up the left, Scott and Martin combining to reach Hamill who sent in a left footer but with insufficient power to trouble City keeper Livingston. Wright threatened latching onto a long ball but Montgomery was sharp and stole it off her. City were using the wings well finding space despite Aberdeen crowding the midfield with 5 players. Campbell found Fernon who crossed in to ROSS who shot high, young keeper Chatham got a hand to it but it carried and hit the post to go in for the third.

Aberdeen pressed winning a free kick ten yards into the home half. Played in by Scott but the Montgomery half blocked for Lappin to clear.

Lindner was proving the dangerous, continually allowed space to charge up the left. One cross tempted Ross and Campbell who were unmarked but Chatham rescued the cross from the air to deny a clear chance. The Aberdeen midfield had a short spell of pressure eventually playing a pass long to Wright but she was offside. City repeated the move via Lindner time and again to send in Crosses. Ross volleyed one past the post then another was cleared to the feet of City’s Somerville who struck hard but again wide.

Aberdeen had a short flurry, Bradford nudging it to Wright but Montgomery and the keeper closed down then a solo charge from Wright brought a hefty challenge which stopped her in her tracks. Lindner, a constant danger on the left, sought out Sneddon with a long ball forward but Scott was sharp clearing then a strike from Lindner on her own was saved on the line by Chatham

Fitzpatrick came on for Anderson in a straight replacement at half time. City’s Somerville broke forward from left back sending a pass long to Sneddon who ran in from midfield but Fitzpatrick had tracked her well and cleared the danger.

City centre half Hogg strolled from the defence to wide left playing a long ball from the half way line to the back post for FERNON to finish with a free header.

The defence were under immense pressure, City continuing to flood forward from midfield, Aberdeen, even with the extra man, failing to contain or track players back. The back three now with Taylor in place of Hather continued to work hard blocking harrying and clearing but were always outnumbered.

The Dons made a foray forward earning a half chance with a blast from Wright from 20 yards for the keeper to hold easily. City replied, Lindner again up the left, losing Corsie who had to charge back hard to rescue the attack conceding a corner. The first was played in and Hamill nodded it clear for a corner. The second was met by CAMPBELL who headed in towards goal, Scott tried to clear at the post but it carried in.

The final goal came again from a corner which Small had to concede to kill off another attack. Delivered in from the left, LAPPIN ghosted in losing her marker and rose to head in.

Not content with six the tireless Lindner again pushed hard up the left threatening with a 25 yard shot but keeper Chatham blocked with feet conceding a throw. The throw came long to the feet of Lappin in the 6 yard box, Taylor jockeyed her long enough for Aberdeen to hassle the ball away.

Alana Chatham, Rachel Small, Carolyn Hather (Jenni Taylor), Paula Scott, Rachel Corsie, Rachel Hamill, Susan Murray, Adele Anderson (Chloe Fitzpatrick), Claire Martin, Shireen Bradford, Nikki Wright.

City Clout Dons for Six