In their last home match of the 2016 campaign Cumbernauld set out to send their fans home happy that had come out to support them at Broadwood. They got them smiling early with an opening goal in the 2nd minute when Mo Simpson tapped the ball home following decent work down their right flank between Porter and Fern.
Hearts were stunned and worked hard to get themselves back into the game but found McGann in between the sticks for the Colts for the opening 45 minutes in no mood to allow them a goal. She pulled off a great stop in the 18th minute taking a short directly to her midriff as she rushed out to block an attack from the visitors.
Kim Guthrie went close to doubling the home sides advantage but was thwarted by Megane Steel in the Jambos goal with two fine saves in the twentieth minute. The second of which giving the home side another opportunity from the resulting corner. Nothing came from the corner as the ball went straight out for a by kick. Steel’s clearance was met by Ferns head and she directed her header to Simpson at the edge of the area. Simpson lofted the ball over Steel and scored hers and her sides second midway through the half.
A minute later the home side had scored their third when McIntyre exquisitely threaded a ball to Guthrie to get her goal a minute after Simpson had got her second.
On the half hour Guthrie beam the provider when she tore down the left side and cut inside her defender. Rather than shoot she looked up and saw Morrison on the penalty spot in a better position and squared the ball to her. Morrison got the ball out from under her feet and slotted home to seemingly have the points won early on.
Just before the break Fern battled the Hearts defence and crossed to McIntyre whose glancing header beat Steel but not the crossbar which was the last action of the half.
The home side started the second half like the first and got another early goal, this time taking four minutes to get their scoring underway. Porter knocked the ball home after a bit of pinball in the visitors area following another Colts corner.
Two minutes later, the influential McIntyre fed Fern who went one on one with Steel, and found the back of the net though Steel got a hand to her shot.
And then on the hour came the moment of the match for Cumbernauld. Following a languid throw, Fern struck a spectacular shot from fully forty yards on the right touchline and watched as the ball sailed over Steel.
The final Cumbernauld goal came from player/manager Julie McSherry who’d came on for Downie. Porter played her in and she lobbed Steel as she came out to intercept.
With a quarter of the match left it looked as though double figures were a possibility for McSherry’s side. But, wasteful finishing and poor decision making prevented her side increasing their goal difference further.
The final goal of the game and a solitary consolation effort for Hearts came with virtually the last kick of the game. Angyl Learmonth with a fantastic strike for the visitors that gave McPhee who’d replaced McGann in the home goal no chance. The final whistle blowing directly after the re-start.
McSherry was full of praise after the match for her side. We played well in spells and were in control of the match throughout. We’re having a torrid time with injuries, illnesses and work commitments at present. I even had to lace the boots up myself today.
We’re exceptionally pleased we put in a performance for those that turned out to watch, they seemed to enjoy themselves in our last home game. Though we scored eight the wasted chances are still disappointing and we need to be more clinical in front of goal.
We’ve four tough away games now to complete the season, starting with a visit to Rangers.
We’ll see what bodies we have available for that game and manage training around who is available.
Reported by Stephen Bole
Picture: Cumbernauld Colts
