Match report by Campbell Finlayson and photo by Ben Kearney.
Motherwell topped Group D in the SWPL Cup with a thumping 6-1 win over Partick Thistle at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie.
Jordan McLintock scored a hat-trick with a double from Kaela McDonald-Nguah and Sophie Gallagher’s own goal seeing the Well climb above Thistle and Forfar Farmington to the top of the table. Suzanne Mulvey replied late on for the Jags.
The visitors started well and had the first effort on goal inside two minutes; Emma Craig’s shot from distance forcing a save from Khym Ramsay.
Shannon Todd then showed great feet to jink her way beyond three defenders before seeing her shot blocked.
However, it was Motherwell who would take the lead, albeit with a huge slice of luck as a free-kick from distance came off the head of the unfortunate Gallagher before skimming off the wet surface and past Jade Baillie in goal.
Both sides were aiming to get the ball down to play football despite the woeful conditions and did manage to create a couple of half chances each.
Motherwell hit the Jags with a sucker punch on the stroke of half time though to double their advantage. Lucy Sinclair picked up possession in the middle of the park before playing in Nicole Puller who squared for McLintock to knock the ball into the net.
It was three in the first minute of the second half as the ball sat up nicely for McDonald-Nguah on the edge of the box and she took her shot early, catching Baillie by surprise to find the corner.
The former Spartans midfielder then scored again seven minutes later when Emma Black picked her out in the middle and she fired the ball first time on the volley beyond Baillie.
Thistle tried to react and had a chance when Todd found space on the edge of the area, but her strike was easily held by Ramsay.
McLintock scored a quick-fire double to complete her hat-trick just past the hour mark as Motherwell began to run riot. The Jags appealed for a foul but the referee waved play on as McDonald-Nguah found the striker who slotted home with ease.
Her third came within a minute, but was also without controversy as Partick appealed for a handball by Gardner from the cross. The ball eventually found its way to McLintock though who was able to control it before smashing it into the back of the net.
John Doyle’s side did manage a consolation when Ramsay’s attempted clearance ricocheted off Suzanne Mulvey and into the net with 10 minutes to play, but in the end it should have been more with McLintock somehow firing wide from six yards late on.
Sunday sees a return to league action for the two sides as Motherwell face Hibs in SWPL 1 with Partick Thistle on their travels again, taking on newly promoted Boroughmuir Thistle in SWPL 2.
Motherwell: Ramsay; Black (Roberts, 67), L. Gallon, Watson, Inglis; Hay (Adams, 80), McDonald-Nguah (Reside, 80), Sinclair (Callaghan, 67), Rice; Puller (Gardner, 67), McLintock
Partick Thistle: Baillie; Smith, McGlashan, Falconer, McAvoy; Craig (Christie, 67), Docherty (Fleming, 63), J. Gallon, Todd (Hawksworth, 72); Mulvey, Gallagher (Millar, 67)
