Lochee United LFC 0 – Aberdeen FC Ladies 6 

Aberdeen travelled to Dundee to meet Premier newcomers Lochee United in what was yet again the only game in the Thompson’s Premier league to survive the recent weather. On a heavy pitch it Aberdeen were keen to see if their extra matches would give them an advantage over Lochee who hadn't played for some weeks.

 United tested the Aberdeen offside trap a couple of times early, strikers Johnston and Dennay forcing the Reds defence to work hard. A Lochee corner sent on by Johnston was headed out by Taylor to the feet of Lochee’s McGregor whose shot went over the bar. The Dons replied, Wright squaring across goal but just too far in front for McLellan to meet. Martin crossed in from the left to Hamill who laid off to Murray to strike just wide of the upright from 25 yards. 

22 minutes in Aberdeen took the lead, a pass from the left to the feet of Wright who was on the top of the keeper. The ball rebounded between the two of them to end up in the net for WRIGHT to earn her first of the day. From the kick off Lochee passed long to Denney who got a yard on the defence but Dons keeper Hutcheson came quickly to snatch the ball off the feet of the incoming striker.

Lochee pressed again, Denney and Johnston darting forward onto long balls testing the Aberdeen defence which stood firm. The Dons went two ahead from a free kick to McLellan who worked hard to retain possession. Hughes for Lochee did well to intercept the attack before a melee saw the ball fall to WRIGHT on the left; she cut inside and hit an 18 yarder into the right hand side of the goal on 38 minutes.

Wright and Stirling combined well, Stirling crossing towards McLellan and Martin but again Lochee’s Hughes was on hand to head away for a corner. The attacks continued, a corner to mid goal where Taylor headed just over the bar and a Stirling free kick tipped over the bar.

 Half Time Lochee 2 – Aberdeen 0

Aberdeen attacked from the start and 3 minutes into the half Stirling collected a Corsie pass wide on the right. She chased up the park before crossing low and hard for WRIGHT to angle it in at the near post for her hat trick. On 55 minutes a shout from Martin earned her a pass, she pinged it to McLellan who controlled well and crossed across goal, it bobbled around falling to HAMILL who turned and fired into the net. 

Within minutes of the restart, Corsie passed to McLellan who dummied for Wright to run onto, Hughes was marking tightly but as Wright slipped it past her, she stumbled leaving WRIGHT free to race forward and strike high into the left hand corner for her fourth. 

The home defence were under severe pressure now, Hamill and Wright both having shots blocked. A clearance from Taylor found Hamill who spread it wide to McLellan; she weaved in the box before sending a left footer just wide. Wright was unlucky not to increase her tally as she just failed to meet a Stirling cross at the back post and McLellan’s bad luck continued with an attack on goal blocked by Hughes to concede a corner. 

The Reds were getting behind the Lochee defence at will now, the lack of games seeming to tell on the home side now. A rare visit by Lochee into the Aberdeen half was stifled by the Dons defence and they broke forward again.

 With a couple of minutes on the clock, from a throw, Corsie picked up and strode towards the box, sending a long ball to the back post where MCLELLAN ran in to head home a well earned goal from a yard out. 

Corsie again on the right crossed to the penalty spot where Hamill aimed a diving header into the hands of the keeper. A last gasp push from Lochee saw Hughes send a short free kick into the box but Taylor read well, intercepting and sending the ball into row Z. 

Aberdeen Team :- 

Jo Hutcheson, Shireen Bradford, Jenni  Taylor, Carolyn Hather (Mirka Feregova), Rachel Corsie, Stirling, Hamill, Murray, Martin, Wright, McLellan

DaveU, 23 January 2007 

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Aberdeen hit Lochee for six in the only Thompsons Solicitors Premier League match to survive the weather. Nikki Wright fired in four goals and Helen McLellan and Rachel Hamill were also on target. “Considering we won our first game back last week after such a long break,it was great to have another win,” says Dons boss Rob Ritchie.

“Everyone is really happy that we’re starting to pull some results together.

“I was very pleased with the way we went about our business, as the whole team played really well.”

The victory lifts Aberdeen into fourth place behind Edinburgh - but with so many clubs having games in hand, the table will undergo plenty of change in the coming weeks.

The heavy defeat was a blow for home side Lochee, still struggling with squad problems.

“We were very disappointed,” admits Lochee boss Mary McDonald. “But we did have a few players missing.

“We are certainly looking to boost our squad numbers and in the meantime, we’ve got some new coaches working with us, so things can only improve.”

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