Seven goal success in ‘Ness for Spartans

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It was seventh heaven for Debbi McCulloch’s Spartans in the SWPL as they defeated Inverness City 0-7 in the Capital of the Highlands.

With Rachel Harrison ruled out through injury, 15 year old keeper Eartha Cumings retained her place between the sticks in what was to be her second clean sheet in the space of 7 days.
After some last minute running repairs to the nets, the Ref got the game underway at Millbank Academy in a mixture of sunshine and showers.
It took 7 mins for Spartans to open up their account after great link-up play between Danni Pagliarulo & Bobbie Beveridge saw the latter pass to Louise Mason who slotted home past Kim Jappy in the Inverness goal.

That lead was doubled eight minutes later when Sarah Ewens collected the ball on the edge of the box before bending it back across Jappy and into the corner of the net.
With 5 minutes of the half remaining, Morgan Mitchell scored her first goal in Spartans colours.  Louise Mason’s original effort hit the post, before her rebound was sent looping into the air by an Inverness defender blocking a net-bound shot. Mitchell was the first to react and poked the ball over the line from close range.
HT: Inverness City 0-3 Spartans
There was a comedy moment on the visitors touchline as the second half got underway when a local swooping seagull almost troubled Manager McCulloch in the technical area.
It was almost goal number four via a thunderous Louise Mason effort however Finella Annand took one for the team blocking the shot with her thigh which drew a sharp intake of breath from the player and many on the sidelines too.
The sting had barely left the mind – and leg – of the Inverness defender when Sarah Ewens slammed the ball into the roof of the net after Louise Mason’s cross was mis-judged by Lorraine Cadden.
Carla Jackson replaced Ronaigh Douglas and this was followed shortly afterwards when Erin Burns made her debut coming on for Bobbie Beveridge.
A triple-whammy in the final eight minutes
Morgan Mitchell notched up her second of the afternoon when she drove home with the aid of a slight deflection from just inside the box.
Louise Mason became the third player to grab a brace after a defence splitting pass by Katie Reilly set up a chance in the box that Mason didn’t need a written invitation before sliding home.
With the final play of the game, quick thinking by Erin Burns saw her throw-in collected by Louise Mason who delivered into the penalty area for Sarah Ewens to head home to round off a performance that saw Debbi McCulloch and her side head back to Edinburgh with three points in the bag.
FT: Inverness City 0-7 Spartans
An ebullient McCulloch said: “It was a  great performance today from every Spartans player, with the 7 goals coming from each of our front 3. We won our battles in the midfield & it was very pleasing to keep a second clean sheet in a row.”