LONDON GOES TO TOWN AS COVE WOMEN BEGIN CHAMPIONSHIP CAMPAIGN WITH COMFORTABLE VICTORY OVER GRAMPIAN
Report / Image: Cove Rangers FC
GOAL GRABBERS: (Picture) The trio who netted for Cove Rangers Women in the 4-0 victory over Grampian Ladies, from left, Anna Grant, London Pollard and Megan Maver.
Grampian Ladies 0 Cove Rangers Women 4
Scottish Championship North
Sunday February 9, 2020
At Cults Academy Playing Fields.
Winger London Pollard was the star of the show as Cove Rangers Women began their Scottish Championship campaign in style with a well deserved 4-0 away victory over Grampian Ladies.
The 15-year-old netted twice and also set up a goal for midfielder Megan Maver as Cove coped comfortably with their opponents despite a howling gale that made playing their normal passing football difficult.
Anna Grant also scored in a 90 minutes that Cove dominated from start to finish.
But the outstanding performer was youngster Pollard, who was born in Belgium, holds a Dutch passport but has played for Scotland at youth level.
She finished brilliantly for both of her goals, struck the woodwork with another effort and caused havoc in the Grampian defence every time she got on the ball.
Cove Rangers co-manager Vicki Paterson said: “We know if we can get the ball to London she will make things happen.
“It was an amazing performance by her, especially when you consider she is one of the youngest members of our squad.”
Grampian chose to start the match with the strong wind at their backs but i Cove stood up to them well and played the best football.
They took the lead when right winger Melissa Stirling, who also impressed, swept a fantastic cross over to the back post for Pollard to power a header home.
Former Buchan keeper Lauren Sangster, making her debut for Cove, then pulled off a marvellous double save to keep Cove ahead.
Sangster’s heroics were rewarded almost immediately when Stirling broke down the right again then cut the ball back for Grant to score from eight yards.
Pollard killed off any hope of Grampian recovering when she made it 3-0 midway through the second half. The teenager’s pace took her clear of the home defence and she then fired in a 16-yard shot that the Grampian keeper could only help into the net.
Pollard set up the fourth with a perfect through ball to Maver, who kept her cool to score past the advancing keeper from the edge of the Grampian area.
Coach Paterson said: “The team did everything we asked of them.
“With the conditions so bad, it was important we tried to keep the ball down and pass it and we did that, especially in the first half.
“We were also clinical with our finishing, so it was a really good day for us.”
The match was delayed during the first half because Grampian player Lauren Boylan suffered an injury that required her to be taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment.
Everyone at Cove Rangers Women would like to wish Lauren a speedy recovery.
COVE RANGERS: Sangster, Robertson, Clews, Law, Strachan, Maver, Stirling, Glennie, Grant, Pollard, Ridgeway.
Subs: Taylor, Grant, Masson, White, Milne, Cochran, Caira.
