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Spartan’s
Scottish Women’s Premier League campaign finished with a 2-0 defeat at the hands
of League Champions Glasgow City at Ainslie Park on Sunday.
After going into the half-time break all square, Glasgow City
scored two goals in quick succession with Jane Ross getting a brace to seal the
victory and collect all three points for the Glasgow side.
With four minutes gone City came close to opening the scoring
with Jane Ross firing wide from 16 yards out. Leanne Ross cut in off the left
wing and, after getting to the bye line, cut the ball back to her namesake but
Leanne Ross’s first time shot flashed past the post.
Eight minutes later and City’s Ruesha Littlejohn’s cross was
cleared off the line by Claire Crosbie with both Emma Mitchell and Ross waiting
to pounce. City were awarded a free kick wide on the right after Olivia
Lukasewich fouled Mitchell 25 yards from goal. The resultant kick was swung wide
to Littlejohn who drove a fierce low cross towards to back post. However
Crosbie, two yards from goal, was able to hook the ball clear and away from
danger.
City were starting to create more clear cut chances and after
22 minutes Mitchell’s curling left foot drive was tipped away by Spartans keeper
Rachel Harrison. Mitchell picked the ball up on the half way line and drove at
the Spartans defence before cutting in off the wing and crashing in a left foot
curling shot that was bound for the top corner. However Harrison sprung up to
her right and tipped the ball away before the defence cleared the danger.
Just after the half hour mark it was the home side who should
have taken the lead with Louise Mason lobbing the City keeper only to see her
shot smash off the bar. Diana Barry chased down a Danni Pagliarulo back pass
which Claire Johnstone cleared but only to the feet of Mason. After looking up
and seeing the City keeper off her line, the Spartans forward chipped the ball
towards goal only to see it bounce off the bar and away from danger.
Five minutes before half time City again pushed for the
opener with Mitchell again testing Harrison but the Spartans keeper was equal to
it. Mitchell, like her previous chance, cut in off the right wing and, after
entering the box, sent in a vicious low left foot drive which Harrison saved
with her feet.
With the sides recovering at half time the stars of the
future entertained the crowd in an exhibition session. Spartans Under 11’s took
part in a training session in a 4v4 match with Eilidh Douglas, Corinna
O’Malley-Hamilton, Rachel Miller, Niamh Woodrow, Ruby Ridgway, Gemma Cunningham,
Jennifer Irvine and Misha Rennie all taking part.
Two minutes after the restart City took the lead with Jane
Ross tapping home from inside the six yard box. Littlejohn charged down the
right wing and, after gaining a yard, sent over a low cross to the far post for
Ross to tap in.
Within a minute it was 2-0 as Ross fired in her second after
gaining the advantage from her own rebounded shot. Ross picked the ball up on
the left and after jinking in fired in a low cross field shot which was parried
clear by Harrison. However the ball fell to the feet of Ross who converted
sending the ball into the bottom corner.
Spartans pressed to reduce the deficit and within five
minutes Captain Louise Young came close to connecting with an Alana Marshall
cross. Marshall broke clear of the City defence and sent a low driven cross from
the left towards the six yard line. As Young slid in so did the covering Danica
Dalziel who managed to clear from the Spartans midfielder.
There was worrying signs late on as Harrison, who had come
rushing out to smother the ball just inside her area, required treatment after
taking a Leanne Crichton knee to her head but the keeper was able to continue.
Spartans did try one last time to get back into the game with Marshall sending
over a left foot drive but City sealed the victory and the three points.
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