SWFL Division One – North | Aberdeen 12 Raith Rovers 0 | Forfar Community Centre
Report: Malcolm Panton / Image: Aberdeen FC
The AFC Women’s team are now only one point away from clinching the SWFL Division One – North title and promotion to the second tier of Scottish Women’s Football after a recording their highest score of the season in Forfar this evening against Raith Rovers.
Due to their vast goal difference, a draw on Sunday against Cove Rangers will be enough to ensure they cannot be caught by their Aberdeen rivals or Dunfermline Athletic, the only two sides who could still have mounted a challenged.
Report
Aberdeen were always expected to be too strong for bottom side Raith Rovers and got off the perfect start this evening when they opened the scoring after about 90 seconds. Lauren Gordon was through on goal and although the keeper Chloe Hunter was out quickly to clear, the ball landed at the feet of Francesca OGILVIE and from about 25 yards she produced a superb lob into the far corner. A late contender for goal of the season.
Aberdeen then dominated possession but credit to Raith who worked hard to limit the opportunities.
On 17 minutes the Dons females grabbed a second when Eilidh SHORE fired in a shot from the edge of the area which hit the post before rebounding off the unfortunate keeper into the net. The keeper was unlucky as she was committed to the drive and could nothing about it.
After 23 minutes Carrie Doig was unlucky when she perfectly timed her run into the box from a corner but could not keep her effort down.
The keeper made a good save from Sophie Jamieson before Shore headed the resulting corner over.
On 28 minutes it was three, JAMIESON showed great feet inside the area to create an opening and she coolly slotted home. A fine individual goal. A few minutes later the same player had another chance but her shot this time was saved by the keeper who was well positioned.
On 38 minutes right back Lauren Gordon produced a trademark storming run down the wing, she then produced an equally impressive cut-back but no one could in a red shirt could connect. The fine full back play deserved a goal.
On the stroke of half time Jamieson produced a great bit of skill but lifted a volley just over the bar.
Half Time Aberdeen 3 Raith Rovers 0
At the start of the second half Hunter produced a brilliant save from Bayley Hutchison who had come on as a substitute at the interval. On 55 minutes HUTCHISON did beat the keeper to net a fourth.
OGILVIE then added a fifth a few minutes later but not before the keeper had another couple of decent saves.
On 62 minutes OGILVIE completed her hat-trick as the superior fitness of the Aberdeen girls began to really show.
They were also putting together some lovely passing moves.
After 65 minutes Hutchison burst free but the keeper again produced an excellent stop, managing to get a hand on the ball as the Aberdeen striker tired to round her, but a few minutes later HUTCHISON added number seven and then SHORE added her second and number eight with a low finish.
The Fife side had kept their shape for the first hour but the Aberdeen midfield runners were now not being picked up.
Raith might have had a penalty before on 74 minutes HUTCHISON added number nine. Two minutes later substitute Johan Fraser crossed for HUTCHISON to net her fourth and goal number ten.
The Aberdeen Women were prolific in front of goal, with very chances not hitting the target.
On 80 minutes another sub Jess BROADRICK added the eleventh goal and then a minute later striker Lauren GORDON scored number twelve with a really neat finish. It was fitting that Lauren finished off the scoring as she had worked hard all evening, linking the play and unselfishly laid on a number of the other goals. Her hold up play was also very
good.
So to Sunday, the match at Balgownie kicks off at 1.00pm. Cove are the only side to have taken any points off the Aberdeen Women, drawing 4-4 in a very entertaining game in May.
STATS by Evan Young:
ABERDEEN:
1 Anna Blanchard
16 Sophie Brown (Jessica Broadrick 46)
3 Loren Campbell
14 Kelly Forrest
5 Carrie Doig
6 Natasha Bruce
7 Eilidh Shore
18 Eva Thomson (Bayley Hutchison 46)
9 Lauren Gordon
10 Sophie Jamieson (Johan Fraser 59)
17 Francesca Ogilvie
RAITH ROVERS:
21 Chloe Hunter
18 Asha Meinart
5 Sophie Aitken
8 Tiegan Clark
10 Ellis Yeaman (Katie Donaldson 69)
12 Zoe Moreland
6 Tyler Rattray (Alex Fisher 22)
23 Isla Beveridge (Alana Ward 38)
7 Leah Gilfillan
15 Jacqueline Kohlstetter
11 Kerri Dinnel (Jessica Wyse 59)
