SCOTTISH WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE HAMILTON 3 SPARTANS 2

Spartans travelled to Hamilton last week and produced a lacklustre performance against a spirited Hamilton side who fully deserved all three points if only for their second half performance.

Spartans started better and had most of the possession but the lack of a final pass and good defending by Hamilton meant that for the first fifteen minutes neither side created anything clear cut.  However, it was Spartans who opened the scoring on 18 mins, a long free kick from Crosbie, who was playing with a chipped bone in her left foot, was misjudged by Hogg in the Hamilton defence and the ever alert Barry was onto the chance as quick as a flash and chipped the ball over the advancing Alexander.

The goal seemed to spur Hamilton into life and Crilly almost equalised after using her pace to outstrip the Spartans defence but her shot drifted wide.  Hamilton thought they had equalised shortly after but the goal was disallowed by the assistant referee for high feet on Hutcheson in the Spartans goal. 

The game never really got into any rhythm and was punctuated by foul after foul given by the over officious referee.  Just as it seemed that Spartans were going to take a one goal lead into half time they doubled their advantage with probably the first free flowing move of the game.  A long ball down the right hand side by Fitzpatrick set McLean free and her delightful cross was volleyed home at the back post by Lauder.

Whatever was said to the Hamilton players at half time definitely worked and the second half belonged totally to them.  The comeback was started by Crilly as she chased a long ball out of defence, her speed took her away from the Spartans defence and her left foot shot beat Hutcheson and went in off the right hand post.  Hamilton were now in the ascendancy and equalised shortly after.  A corner from Grant was not properly cleared and McDonald pounced inside the six-yard box to slot home.  Worse was to follow for the Edinburgh side as Fairlie beat the off-side trap to race away and coolly beat Hutcheson from 18-yards.  Spartans misery was complete five minutes later when an almost identical move to the third goal meant Hutcheson having to race out her goal and handle outside the box.  The keeper quite rightly saw red for the incident.  Substitute Harrison took over in goal and Lauder, who had been unwell before the game was sacrificed.

The ten players of Spartans had the majority of the play for the final ten minutes and made Hamilton sweat for their victory but could not get an equaliser and it was Hamilton who deserved all three points. 

Hamilton are a team on the up and if they can replicate their second half performance will be more than a match for most teams in the league. 

Spartans did not have a good afternoon after playing well the previous game but one thing is sure, lessons will be learned and a better display will be required against Rangers.