Killie win 2-1 away at Hamilton

Killie arrived at Tileworks Park, Stonehouse in high spirits looking for the 3 points before the winter break, but they were more than aware that it would be a hard afternoon and they would need to work hard to get the win.

Only one change was made to the Killie team from the week before with Khym Ramsay back in between the sticks after being out injured so long and with Rachael Dorrans playing well in recent weeks. The match started at a high tempo with Hamilton pressing the ball and winning a lot of tackles in the early exchanges. Killie were dealt a major blow early on in the match when the recalled Khym Ramsay was the victim of a horrendous tackle by a Hamilton forward and had to go off with a knee injury.

Rachael Dorrans replaced Khym, with Killie lucky to have two such talented young goalkeepers in their squad. Lindzi Bayne was playing well and got in behind the Hamilton defence down the left hand side, but her shot hit the side netting. Hamilton were however winning a lot of the ball in the midfield area and got in front in the match when one of their strikers burst clear to slot the ball home to put the home side ahead in the match. Hamilton Ladies 1, FC Kilmarnock Ladies 0.

The goal showed Killie that they would need to work harder to get back into the match and to their credit they did. Jo Cooper was linking in well with the midfield and holding the ball up, allowing the Killie midfield to join in on the attack. Toni Mason, Claire McCombe and Kirsty McLaughlin were now getting a bit more of ball and were slowly starting to make things tick. Tackles were flying in all over the place, mostly going unpunished, but Killie kept their discipline and remained focused on getting back into the match. Hamilton nearly doubled their lead when a shot from distance caught everyone out when it the post, but it was cleared to safety by the defence. The equaliser came from a Claire McCombe free kick from the right hand side just before half time, which found the head of young Laura Cooper who was in the right place at the right time to draw Killie level in the match. Hamilton Ladies 1, FC Kilmarnock Ladies 1.

Toni Mason could have put the away side ahead just before half time but her shot, which was hit with plenty of power, from 10 yards out flew over the bar. A golden opportunity missed by a player who was now starting to make an impact on this match.

Half Time: Hamilton Ladies 1, FC Kilmarnock Ladies 1.

Killie Manager Robert Connelly demanded more from his players at half time and wanted them to roll their sleeves up to get the win. The girls started the second half great and were now controlling the game in midfield, switching play and battling for each other. Again second half the tackles were flying in and their was no prisoners being taken with each tackle. Centre Half Debbie Heggarty was the next player to get a sore one when she has taken out deep into the Hamilton half. She was replaced minutes later by Clare Docherty as she struggled to recover from the challenge. Jo Cooper and Clare McCombe also received a few knocks second half, but shrugged them off and remained focused on the football. Shots from McCombe, Bayne, McLaughlin and Docherty failed to get the visitors the 2nd goal, but they did not have to wait too long for it to arrive. Toni Mason got onto the end of a fantastic corner from Clare Docherty to put Killie 2-1 up in the match. Hamilton Ladies 1, FC Kilmarnock Ladies 2.

Jo Cooper and Laura Cooper (The Cooper Connection) were now starting to see more of the ball, with The Killie midfield really pulling the strings now, creating opportunities for others. Claire McCombe after some nice one two’s found herself in the box 6 yards out, but could not get a shot away early in a packed box and had to settle for a corner instead. The home side won a free kick in the area when Rachael Dorrans in goal picked the ball up again after dropping it. A wee mistake that could have punished Killie, but the free kick sailed over the bar. Dorrans redeemed herself minutes later when she had to save well at the feet of an advancing Hamilton Player, injuring her finger in the process. Another injury, but she battled on regardless. The back three of Smith, Burns and Hughes were playing excellent and stuck to the task of clearing their lines when called upon. Sharon Hughes was playing well against the pacy Pamela Liddell, Tracey Burns was winning everything in the air and Julie Smith was still getting forward linking in with the midfield.

Kirsty McLaughlin almost lobbed Elaine Fleming when she got to the ball before the Hamilton Keeper, but it went wide. Leaving many thinking it must have been the green boots that were to blame, but Santa might get her a blue pair for Christmas, we will need to wait and see. Julie Smith whipped in a couple of great free kicks second half, but Hamilton stayed firm and cleared their lines on each occasion. Killie should have had this match wrapped up by now, but had to ride out the last 5 minutes and loads of injury time as Hamilton pressed for the equalizer and almost got it when a shot in a packed box was firstly blocked by Lindzi Bayne and hooked to safety by Clare Docherty. It was the last real action of the game, as Killie held onto their lead and left with all 3 points.

Final Score: Hamilton Ladies 1, FC Kilmarnock Ladies 2.

Killie Team: Ramsay (Dorrans), Heggarty (Docherty), Smith, Burns ©, McCombe, Bayne, Mason, L.Cooper, J.Cooper, Hughes & McLaughlin.
Subs: Docherty, Dorrans, C.Ferguson and Munro.

After the match a delighted FC Kilmarnock Ladies Manager Robert Connelly said “ I am proud of every one of the girls today, as we had to dig in to get the result today as Hamilton showed they are a strong physical side and that is always hard to play against. I thought second half we played a lot better and thoroughly deserved the 3 points. Unfortunately we lost Khym and Debbie through injury today, with a few others nursing a few injuries afterwards, but we showed character to come from a goal down and get the win. This week has been tough with a few players missing today through injury and illness, but the players we had here today done fantastic. We can relax a bit now, take stock of things, assess the first half of the season and look forward to a well earned two week break just before Christmas. But for now we will continue to train and work hard until we stop on the 20th of December.”

VIEW PHOTO REPORT HERE

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Missing several players due to injury, illness and unavailability Accies Premier League Team competed well.  1-1 at half time after a good goal from Accies Marie Gemmell there wasn’t much to choose between the teams but it was the visitors who claimed all three points with a goal from a set piece.  This will be Accies last game for several weeks due to the new winter shut down for Premier league Teams. The shut down probably comes at a goodtime for Accies as it will give the opportunity to hopefully get some players back fit and available after injury.  Going into the winter break Accies are sitting mid table in the league and are hoping to move up the league when the action starts up again.