Rossvale lift the Championship & League One Cup after extra time winner from Jane O’Toole
Rossvale have lifted the Championship and League One Cup after a close-fought final in Alloa against Dundee side Dryburgh Athletic.
Dryburgh’s resolute defence managed to keep Rossvale’s well-known attacking threats quiet for 104 minutes before defender Jane o’Toole nodded the ball into net in extra time to claim the cup for the Glasgow side.
Despite their respective league positions, it was Dryburgh who started the brighter, moving the ball forward to Derrian Gollan and Stacey McFadyen.
But Rossvale settled their nerves and worked their way into the game, Samantha Ryan enjoying some space on the right wing, with Dryburgh Athletic keeper Chantelle McKay doing well to hold her shot on fifteen minutes.
Five minutes later, McFadyen produced a wonderful touch to make a chance for herself, but her rocket shot came off the crossbar and went straight up in the air, but Sarah Rhind in the Rossvale goal did well to collect it.
With the half-hour mark approaching, Jemma McQuillan did brilliantly to beat three players on the left and found Sarah Macleod unmarked in the box, but shot straight at McKay.
Minutes later McFadyen stung the cross bar at the opposite end again with a wicked strike from outside the box, and the game felt stretched.
The second half began at the same pace, Rossvale bringing more intensity through Megan Whiteford shooting over and forcing a brave save from McKay at her back post shortly after.
On 55 minutes Clara Laing rounded the keeper but Jane O’Toole had tracked back to cover and the game was moving end-to-end once again.
But Rossvale fought back into dominance, throwing Cheryl Watt on to provide some height up front and with Whiteford and McQuillan enjoying more touches, but the Dryburgh defence were at their resolute best. McKay did well to deny McQuillan with just over 15 minutes to go after the Rossvale winger had drifted in.
On the 90th minute, Amy Allan was booked for a high boot on Katie Hassett as she tried to connect with a corner before Rachel Robbie skied an last-ditch effort. There would be two incredible saves from Rhind to deny first Robbie then McFadyen and the game headed into extra time.
Straight out the blocks in extra time, McFadyen curled a brilliant cross but the bounce defeated Clara Laing at the back post and the shot cleared the bar. At the other end, Sarah Wardlaw showed great strength to hold off a challenge and provided a great cross to Cheryl Watt, whose shot was cleared off the line by Daisy Hutchison.
The breakthrough would eventually come after 104 minutes, Jane O’Toole putting her head onto a delivery from Whiteford to send the Rossvale fans wild.
Rossvale had further chances in the second period of extra time, Sarah Wardlaw blasted wide after a great cross from Hannah Troll, then McKay denied McQuillan. Dryburgh put on the experience of club captain Laura Boag to try and steady the ship, but Rossvale showed great resilience to go the distance and lift the cup. Next Sunday they head to Inverness Caledonian Thistle with a fantastic chance to claim the double, as nearest rivals Ayr United need to score into double figures to catch them.
