Clinical Bishopton lift ScottishPower Regional League Cup in lively final
Bishopton have won the ScottishPower Regional League Cup after putting ten past a young Huntly side at the Indodrill Stadium in Alloa.
Player of the Match Catriona McAllister scored four on their way to a comprehensive 10-1 win in front of a lively crowd, with particular credit to a colourful Huntly support who made a huge contribution to the tremendous atmosphere.
That atmosphere was evident even as the teams emerged, flanked by the ScottishPower pipe band and with both teams bringing a good support in full voice.
2021 winners Bishopton showed their experience and strong physicality from the off to impose themselves on the game, and in the third minute Catriona McAllister shrugged off a tackle and stroked home the opener, and with Huntly still rattled she poked home a second two minutes later. McAllister had completed her hat-trick by the ten-minute mark, with the Huntly defenders looking along the line hoping for an offside call.
Huntly were sending hopeful balls forward and a great pass into the box by Lucy Taylor found Leah Mearns but Sophie Allison in the Bishopton goal smothered it at her feet.
With Huntly pushing up, unmarked Hannah Coyle added Bishopton’s fourth on 20 minutes but the Huntly fans were not subdued, maintaining their colour and noise to lift the heads of the players.
The supporters could almost be credited for an assist as they roared Leah Mearns to score for Huntly on 27 minutes, sending the ball across the goal from the right to reduce the deficit back to three.
But Natasha Marshall scored Bishopton’s fifth just minutes later, nicking the ball from the hands of Huntly keeper Summer Simson to tap home.
Huntly almost added a second when Ailsa Harper sent a floating free kick into the box which Amy Strath connected with but it when inches wide. But Harper was shown a straight red for bringing Natasha Marshall down on the edge of the box and Huntly were up against it, ending the half 7-1 down after two quick goals ahead of the break.
Huntly were far from giving up, and started the second period brightly but just ahead of the hour mark an audacious chip from Lucy Marshall from outside the D dipped in, and McAllister added a ninth shortly after.
Jaqui Seagrave nodded in a tenth from a corner on 78 minutes but the score was already beyond doubt.
