Women’s Match Report | Queen’s Park v Hamilton Academical
SWPL Cup – Group Stage
Sunday, 16ᵗʰ February 2020
Queen’s Park 1–6 Hamilton Academical (Ashley McKeown 65′; Georgina McTear 6′, Ellie Kane 12′, Amy Anderson 20′, 81′, Dionne Brown 55′, MT Gardiner 74′)
FIRST HALF
Last season’s runners-up Hamilton Academical proved to be too strong for the newly-promoted home side, despite an improved second-half performance.
Centre-back Georgina McTear gave Hamilton the lead in the 6ᵗʰ minute, when she scrambled the ball home from close-range following Kirstie McIntosh’s corner-kick. In the 10ᵗʰ minute, Ashley McKeown received a great through ball from the midfield, but she was unfortunately caught offside.
Hamilton doubled their advantage two minutes later, when a great MT Gardiner cross found an unmarked Ellie Kane, and they then went on to make it 3–0 in the 20ᵗʰ minute, when Amy Anderson fired the ball home from long-range with a fantastic effort. A few minutes later, McKeown sent a good ball into the area, but Frances Hopgood could not get her foot to it. Goalkeeper Toni Harkness then made a good save in the 35ᵗʰ minute to deny Teigan McCann.
Despite Hamilton having several chances to extend their advantage—notably through Teigan McCann, MT Gardiner, Ellie Kane, and Rachel Ross—the Spiders did not concede any more goals in the first-half, and the visitors went into half-time with a deserved 3–0 lead.
HALF-TIME: QUEEN’S PARK 0–3 HAMILTON ACADEMICAL
SECOND HALF
Queen’s Park made four substitutions in the second-half, sending on Melanie Porter, Katie McDonald, Sarah Wardlaw and Niamh Mullen for Samantha Davies, Holli Coleman, Monica Anderson and Hannah Fulton. Hamilton made one substitution at half-time, with Dionne Brown coming on for Ellie Kane. Queen’s Park’s first real opportunity came in the 47ᵗʰ minute, but Mhairi Fyfe’s low shot went just wide of the left post.
The Spiders had another chance when they won a corner in the 51st minute, but nothing came of it, and Hamilton made it 4–0 just four minutes later, thanks to a goal by substitute Dionne Brown following a pass from Teigan McCann. Goalkeeper Toni Harkness then made another good save in the 60ᵗʰ minute, preventing Hamilton from further extending their lead. The visitors made a second substitution, with Hannah Coakley coming on to replace Nina Fitzsimmons.
In the 65ᵗʰ minute, the hosts finally managed to get one back through a close-range effort from Ashley McKeown, who made it 4–1 with her first of the season. Hamilton then made three more substitutions, as Megan Quigley went in for Megan Quinn, Lauren Evans for Nichola Sturrock, and Danielle Connolly for Teigan McCann.
In the 74ᵗʰ minute, MT Gardiner made it 5–1 despite the best efforts of Harkness, who saved her first attempt but could not keep out the follow up. The Spiders had one final opportunity in the 80ᵗʰ minute, but the shot was saved by goalkeeper Lauren Grant.
In the 81st minute, Harkness made another great save; however, the Hamilton captain, Amy Anderson, got her second of the match just four minutes later, when she made it 6–1 with another great strike from distance. The visitors had a couple of more chances to score, but the scoreline remained the same for the rest of the second-half.
Manager Mark Kirk said: “In the first-half, we didn’t start well, we didn’t get off to a good start at all, and so we immediately conceded three goals. Once we settled into the game we were okay. In the second-half, we managed to score, but at the same time, as a team, we just couldn’t keep control of the ball, and a good team punished us, that’s what happened”. He also added: “Ultimately, the SWPL Cup is not a priority, it’s like an ‘extended pre-season’ for us, we have the chance to go and perform and get organised against these teams, and get a good preparation for the league. It gave us a good test in terms of being in the SWPL 2 and we look to have a good start against St Johnstone on Sunday”.
Queen’s Park begin their SWPL 2 campaign with a trip to St Johnstone on Sunday, 23rd February.
FULL-TIME: QUEEN’S PARK 1–6 HAMILTON ACADEMICAL
QUEEN’S PARK STARTING XI: Toni Harkness (GK), Samantha Davies, Holli Coleman, Lauren Ray, Jayne Cameron (C), Helen MacLeod, Monica Anderson, Hannah Fulton, Ashley McKeown, Mhairi Fyfe, Frances Hopgood | SUBSTITUTES: Christine MacKinnon, Samantha MacPherson, Niamh Mullen, Sarah Wardlaw, Melanie Porter, Lauren Coleman, Katie McDonald
HAMILTON ACADEMICAL STARTING XI: Lauren Grant (GK), Nina Fitzsimmons, Georgina McTear, Rachel Ross, Megan Quinn, Nichola Sturrock, Amy Anderson (C), Kirstie McIntosh, Teigan McCann, MT Gardiner, Ellie Kane | SUBSTITUTES: Sarah Rhind, Danielle Connelly, Megan Quigley, Hannah Coakley, Dionne Brown, Alise Stewart, Lauren Evans