Lochee climbed out of the bottom two after a battling 3-0 win against fellow strugglers Hutchison Vale at Thomson Park.

 

Goals by Emma McCully, Kirsty Marr and Laurie Denney clinched the three points for Lochee but Hutchison Vale should take a lot of heart from this performance as they created some good chances and on another day, they might have taken the three points back across the Forth.

 

Lochee started the brighter of the two teams and a long range effort by Kirsty Marr on twelve minutes was easily held by Hutchy’ Keeper Rachel Harrison. Lochee then had another chance, Laurie Denney was put through by Kirsty Marr and with only the GK to beat, her shot across goal crept agonisingly wide.

 

Lochee had the majority of the possession but seemed to become increasingly frustrated as the Hutchy’ defence stood firm. Hutchy’ came into the game and a corner on twenty seven minutes was only half cleared by the Lochee defence and a shot from the edge of the box just went past Lynsey McKinlay in the Lochee goals right hand post.

 

Hutchy’ then had another chance after some sloppy midfield play from Lochee allowed a Hutchy Forward to shoot from twenty five yards but her effort was well wide of the goal.

 

Lochee took the lead on thirty five minutes. A long throw into the box wasn’t cleared by the Hutchy’ defence and the ball landed at the feet of McCULLY twenty yards from goal who coolly chipped Harrison in the Hutchy goal to give Lochee a deserved 1-0 lead.

 

Straight from kick off, Hayley McEwan almost made it two for Lochee, McEwan intercepted a sloppy pass in the Hutchy midfield and ran through but her shot crept just wide of the right hand post.

 

Half Time – Lochee 1-0 Hutchison Vale

 

Hutchy started the second half the hungrier of the teams and only some good defending from Lochee kept Hutchy at bay.

 

On sixty five minutes, Lochee scored a second very much against the run of play. A lofted ball in behind the Hutchy defence was chased down by MARR who lobbed the advancing Hutchy keeper from around twent five yards and into the back of the net.

 

Despite losing a second, Hutchy heads remained high and only some poor finishing and some more good defending from Lochee kept the score at 2-0.

 

On eighty eight minutes, Lochee added a dubious third goal which killed the game off. Some battling work by Laurie Denney in the Hutchy box resulted in a Hutchy defender falling to the ground, Hutchy players looked on as no free kick was given and DENNEY poked the ball passed Harrison in the visitor’s goal.

 

Full Time – Lochee 3-0 Hutchison Vale

 

Hutchison Vale should take a lot out of this performance. They defended stoutly, played a lot of nice passing football and on another day the result may have been very different. A young team who will mature and only get better as recent results have suggested and with the new coaches on board, they are a much more organised unit.