Raith Rovers LFC 2 v Aberdeen FC Ladies 0

Aberdeen Lose Out On First League Game

With a bare 11 players, Aberdeen travelled to Glenrothes to meet Raith Rovers Ladies in the first game in the Thompsons Premier League. However the strength of Aberdeen FC Ladies and Girls youth policy paid off as they called in the U17 goalkeeper Alana Chatham as a trialist for the game.

In a bright start Aberdeen had an early chance winning two corners. The first was parried away by the keeper for the second which was driven into the side netting. Raith countered, Wheatley attacking down the right before crossing to the back post for Bennett to meet but a fine save on the line from the keeper denied her a goal.

Wheatley again burst forward on a solo run placing a low shot which Chatham stopped for Scott to clear. The Dons pressed winning a free kick on the left sent in long by Gordon, it went over the heads of the defence and the Raith keeper struggled but did well to stop the high bouncing kick from going in.

The Dons continued to push forcing a corner, sent in by Corsie low to the near post where Taylor’s half volley was blocked by the keeper for Raith to scramble away. At the other end a Raith free kick on the left was met by the Aberdeen defence, the ball broke to the feet of Raith’s Fraser who charged forward then overran the ball for Taylor to clear.

End to end stuff with Aberdeen opting for passing through the opposition while Raith countered with long balls to their fast front players. Aberdeen pushed with a long pass down the left from Scott to McLellan who chased hard to keep it in well before turning and crossing across goal where Taylor, running from deep, controlled well but shot just wide.

Half-Time
Raith Rovers Ladies 0 - Aberdeen 0

The worst possible start for the Reds as two minutes in the ever dangerous Wheatley jetted down the right wing sending a fine cross goalwards met by striker SCOTT to head in to take the lead.

Wheatley again from the kick off caused problems finding Bennett who cut in to the near post but tight marking forced her to put it well wide. Raith had their tails up by now pushing through the centre of midfield via Scott and Wheatley with good passing moves.

Aberdeen countered as Corsie, now on the left, combined well with Wright to charge through midfield before playing back to Wright. The wee striker twisted and turned, tormenting the defence before playing forward to Corsie but the ball ran out of play.

Raith again threatened from a free kick on the left which went high and was flicked on by Raith striker Scott but another fine stop from Chatham allowed Aberdeen’s Scott time to clear the danger.

Although Raith seemed on top at this point Aberdeen were still dangerous with a long pass seeing McLellan go clear only to fire straight at the keeper. Then Corsie pressed forward, cutting inside and passing to Anderson. She slipped it to Wright who turned and launched a long shot just over the bar.

80 minutes into the game a long ball from Raith keeper Watson was nodded on into the path of SCOTT who nudged it past Gordon before slotting a pass into the net for Raith’s second.

A Raith kick 30 yards out was played in by Wheatley to the near post, keeper Chatham knocked it away before Scott chased it out of the penalty box. A narrow escape again for Aberdeen as a through ball from Fraser saw Wheatley charge forward and launch a hard shot for Chatham parry and Gordon cleared.

Aberdeen did well to keep it to two goals as Raith’s Scott found herself one on one with the Aberdeen keeper who was sharp of her line to clear the ball from the approaching striker. Scott again attacked and was brought down by Hather for a free kick which was delivered to mid goal where Taylor cleared it for a corner.

Aberdeen Team

Alana Chatham, Jenni Taylor, Kelly Gordon, Caroline Hather, Paula Scott,
Rachel Corsie, Rachel Hamill, Adele Anderson, Claire Martin, Nikki Wright, Helen McLellan