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Spartans and Hamilton Academicals shared the points in their Scottish Womens
Premier League meeting at Ainslie Park with a last gasp equaliser by the away
side finishing the game 4-4.
With both teams taking turns at leading during turbulent weather in North
Edinburgh, it was the home side, with a Louise Young strike in the dying
minutes, who thought they had taken the three points. However with the last kick
of the match, Hamilton’s Toni Mason stole the show to end the encounter all
square.
Spartans started with a bang and were a goal up inside the first three minutes
with Diana Barry lobbing the ball over the Accies keeper Megan Cunningham from
the edge of the box. Molly McKean picked the ball up on the half way line and
placed the ball through the middle of the Accies defence for the well timed run
of Barry to latch onto before she sent a lobbed shot over the advancing
Cunningham and into the back of the net.
Within ten minutes Accies came close to going level with Cheryl McCulloch
muscling her way past Spartans centre-half Louise Moultray only to see her
fierce shot palmed away by keeper Rachel Harrison.
However, this was just a warning shot as, with 30 minutes played, Accies Sarah
Crilly stole in to score at the near post from six yards out. Crilly pressurised
Louise Magilton into giving the ball away just outside her own box and the
forward played a 1-2 with Seagrave before dispatching a right foot shot into the
corner of the net.
Straight from kick-off Accies had to rely on the goalkeeping attributes of
Cunningham who pulled off a point blank save from Spartans Captain Louise Young.
Lana Clelland got free down the left wing and, as she reached the bye-line, the
winger sent over a cross to the far post for Young to head towards goal.
However, in an instant, Cunningham flicked out a hand to pull off a great
reaction save and avert the danger on her goal.
It was Accies who went ahead straight after this opportunity with the home side
again giving the ball away on the edge of their own box allowing forward
McCulloch to pounce upon and fire the ball into the corner of the net.
Spartans were again left with their heads in their hands as with only minutes
left before half-time, a Trisha McLaughlin shot smashed off the post with the
net wide open. Barry picked the ball up midway in her own half and played the
ball through to Sarah Ewens who, with the keeper rushing out to narrow the
angle, flicked the ball out wide to McLaughlin who sent a placed shot towards
the empty net. However, as she was about to turn and celebrate the ball came
crashing off the post and away from danger.
Five minutes after the break Spartans did get back on level terms as Ewens fired
a fierce right foot shot into the back of the net. After latching onto a
Harrison goal kick, the forward wrestled her way past two challenges before
sending a dipping shot into the top corner of the Accies net.
Spartans proceeded to again take the lead in this topsy-turvy match with Barry
getting her second of the game after tapping in at the near post. Ewens flew
down the right wing and as she reached the six yard line she cut the ball back
to Barry who, having made a darting run slid the ball home from four yards out.
However the home sides lead was to only last ten minutes as Carolina Richardson
restored parity with an accurate placed shot that nestled in the top corner of
Harrison’s net. Helen Templeton flicked the ball into the path of Richardson
who, after cutting in from the left, sent a vicious shot that Harrison couldn’t
prevent from ending up in the back of the net.
With time running out the game looked like petering out however Spartans Captain
had other ideas as she crept forward unnoticed. After winger Clelland had a shot
charged down the ball fell to the left foot of Young who, from the right corner
of the box, curled a low drive into the far bottom corner.
With more than 90 minutes on the clock Spartans must have thought they had won
this contest however Accies Toni Mason had other ideas as she connected with an
out swinging corner to head the ball into the net and finish the league
encounter 4-4.
Spartans Head Coach, Debbi McCulloch, was disappointed to not get the three
points as she believes her team deserved more than a draw. She said: “I thought
we played some of our best football so far this season but unfortunately we made
some defensive errors that allowed the opposition back into the game. Of course
the weather conditions didn’t help however it was the disappointment of not
getting more from the game after several missed chances in front of goal.”
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