Spartans welcomed Inverness to the Academy on Sunday for the first League game of the 2010 season. This was Inverness’ first ever visit to the Academy but a strong performance from the home side ensured that they made the long journey north with nothing to show from a spirited performance.

Spartans started brightly and it only took them 3 minutes to open the scoring. A neat 1-2 between Barry and Lauder saw the latter hit the byline and her drilled cross was turned in by Melrose at the back post. This appeared to settle the home side and Inverness goalkeeper Jappy kept her side in the game tipping over a Lauder drive from 25 yards. The keeper was helpless 5 minutes later when a lovely turn and shot from Barry beat the goalie but cracked off her left hand post.  A further Spartans goal looked inevitable and it arrived after 20 minutes, a delightful ball with the outside of her left foot by Hamill split the Inverness defence and Lauder raced through to beat Jappy from 10 yards. Despite almost constant pressure by the home side there was no further scoring with Hamill Scott and Barry all coming close.

The second half opened in similar fashion to the first with the home side on top and a great diving header from Scott came crashing back off the crossbar after 47 minutes. It took Spartans until the 64^th minute to score again but once Barry’s left foot strike beat Jappy the floodgates opened and 3 goals in 10 minutes meant the game was dead and buried. Hamill scored the 4^th with a right foot strike from the edge of the box after being set up by sub Ewens. Crosbie added a 5^th tapping in from close range after her initial header came back off the post and the scoring was complete after 79 minutes when Lauder chipped Jappy from the edge of the box..

All in all it was a strong performance by Spartans, the goalkeeper and defence looked strong and midfield and forwards combined well to create plenty of chances. A special mention should go to both the full backs, McLean and Faughnan who had great games and got forward at every opportunity.

Inverness will have easier games this season but showed enough in the game to suggest that they will pick up League points soon and a special mention should be made to Kim Jappy in goal for a string of excellent saves and to No 9 Natalie Bodiam who played up front on her own for most of the game but put in a great shift and saw her header come back off the post in the first half and will feel aggrieved not to get what looked like a stonewall penalty in the first half.