SCOTTISH WOMEN'S PREMIER LEAGUE SPARTANS 4 FORFAR FARMINGTON 1

Spartans entertained Forfar Farmington on Sunday at the Spartans Academy.  Forfar had made several good signings over the Summer break and would have arrived at the Academy in a confident mood but it was Spartans who earned all three points, with an excellent display of attacking football.  The game kicked off in bright sunshine, and it was Spartans who started the brightest.  McNicoll in the Forfar goal had to look lively to hold a shot from Lauder after six minutes and then Ewens fired wide after good play by Scott and Fitzpatrick on the right.  At this stage Spartans were on top but found it hard to breakdown the Forfar rearguard well marshalled by Small.  Barry fired over from twenty yards before Spartans finally got the breakthrough after twenty six minutes.  Good play down the right saw the ball played into Ewens and her neat flick from fifteen yards was expertly volleyed home by Barry whose low finish gave McNicoll no chance.  This seemed to give Spartans the lift they needed and the second goal just before half time put a fairer reflection on the score line in a half that Spartans had dominated from start to finish.  The goal itself was well worked and excellently finished.  Rooney picked the ball up in her own half and drove forward, her pass down the line released Barry who in turn set up Lauder whose curling shot was too good for McNicoll.

Just before half time the dangerous Dempster showed that the game was far from over as she fired just wide from the edge of the box.  The half ended in pouring rain and Crosbie having to receive treatment for an ankle knock.

The second half kicked off much the same as the first with the sun shining and Spartans dictating the play.  Scott was first to try her luck but her header at the back post from Lauders cross was inches wide.  Lauder then had a great chance to put the game beyond Forfar after being well set up by McKean but blazed over.

Just as Spartans looked in control it was Forfar who got a foothold back in the game.  A long ball was chased by Dempster and keeper Hutcheson came to the edge of the box to clear but Fitzpatrick won the challenge only for it to break kindly for Forfar’s Davidson who lofted the ball into the empty net.  This was harsh on the Spartans back four which until that point had played very well.

Instead of giving Forfar a lift it was Spartans who took a stranglehold on the game and Scott headed just over from a McKean free kick before Spartans got the third goal that their play deserved when Crosbie headed in at the back post from McKean’s corner.  Barry crashed a great left-foot shot off the crossbar but got her second of the game five minutes from full time when she diverted a McLean shot past McNicoll. 

This was a great performance by all fourteen Spartans players, from middle to front they were excellent, creating numerous chances and scoring four excellent goals, however, the platform for the performance was set-up by a solid display from the back four.  Moultray marshalled Dempster very well and the excellent Crosbie strolled through the game.  Special mention must go to the two full backs Rooney and Fitzpatrick who defended well and got forward at every opportunity.  It was also pleasing to see McKean play the full 90 minutes after injury as she turned in a great display.

Forfar will feel disappointed by their performance but came up against a Spartans side that are on a good run of form at the moment.  McNicoll and Small kept the score line down with good displays and Dempster led the line well.  But it was Spartans who gained a well deserved three points.