Glasgow City 5 Accies 0

This guest blog is contributed by Colette Carr.

Glasgow City maintained their 100% league record as five goals separated them and Hamilton Accies Women at Petershill Park.

The high scoreline did not reflect the game however as Accies contained the league leaders throughout and keeper Megan Cunningham proved outstanding in ability, their efforts not going unnoticed by manager Kevin Murphy.

Murphy commented: “I thought we done great today.” He continued: “The application and work rate I thought was a different class from the team, I thought they worked so hard together as a team, and individually I thought they were great.

“Going into the second half at one nil down we’re in with a chance, granted we never had much of the ball or created a lot of opportunities, but you’re always going to come away to places like Glasgow City and face that, but when the scoreline is at one nil you’re kind of hopeful, and I just felt that when the second goal went in it killed the game a little, the players were getting a bit tired, legs heavier, we just had a bad ten minutes there, tired at the end and conceded.

“I think five nil is harsh for the girls, yes City had a lot of possession but I thought we worked so hard and our efforts deserved better than what they got today.” The hosts started brightly, pressuring Accies, as Ruesha Littlejohn sent her shot wide just moments into the match. Eilish McSorley then sent a long ball up towards Jo Love for City, but Hamilton’s Chloe Quinn was quick to intercept and cleared it away to safety.

City were then at it again, Love combining with former Accies star Sarah Crilly to setup Littlejohn in the box, however, Cunningham dived at the Irish internationalist’s feet shielding the ball.

Just after the 20th minute, Crilly sent a lethal low cross into the goal mouth after losing Carolina Richardson, but Cunningham proved her bravery again, coming out to hold it.

Eight minutes later, Crilly netted the first of the match for Glasgow, her twisting volley flying into the top far corner. Cunningham and Littlejohn found themselves in a one on one again, Cunningham coming out and colliding with Littlejohn heavily, however the referee waved play on.

Accies new signing Gillian Sloey saw yellow after 34 minutes, seemingly for repetitive fouling, and a free kick was given about twenty five yards out on the left. After Leanne Ross’ delivery, Littlejohn’s lob flew over the goal.

Two minutes before time, the Hamilton backline did well to delay Suzanne Lappin’s efforts, but Cunningham pulled out another top drawer save when the City midfielder got her strike in.

Five minutes into the second period, Littlejohn hit the post with her short free kick before she found goal, but Glasgow’s second was chalked off due to a handball.

Moments shy of the hour Suzanne Malone rattled off the cross bar from very close range for the home side.

Accies then found a glimpse of City’s goal, with Cara McBrearty belting the ball deep into the hosts half, before Sloey headed over.

Despite high pressure inside the area from City, Hamilton were doing well to keep the score at one nil, and keep the hosts at bay.

The next seven minutes of the match however would prove to be Hamilton’s undoing, the 75th minute seeing Lappin whipping her shot into Cunningham’s goal, three minutes later Littlejohn coolly slotting from wide, the 81st seeing Lappin picking up the end of a corner to head in and Lappin completing her hat-trick a minute later with another strong header.

A moment before time Cunningham displayed another superb save to deny Love from 25 yards, topping off a great day for the keeper despite the scoreline.

While Glasgow City go away with their 100% record still intact, Accies will be disappointed to miss out on a spot in the top six before the break, and to concede five goals in what was a strong solid defensive display from the Lanarkshire side.

Player of the Match: Megan Cunningham Attendance :103 Referee: Hazel Irvine Glasgow City: Dalziel, Robertson (O’Hara), McSorley, Love, Crichton (Gallagher), Littlejohn, Lappin, Docherty, Malone, Ross (Pagliarulo), Crilly (Barnes) Hamilton Accies: Cunningham, Cairns, Quinn (Lang), Douglas (Donnelly), Ingils (McDonald), Bulloch (King), McBrearty (Black), McCulloch, Richardson, McInally, Sloey

Colette Carr