Motherwell 6 Queen’s Park 1

Queen’s Park travelled to East Kilbride to face 6th place Motherwell in their final game before the international break. In their previous encounter at Ochilview, the Spiders’ fell short as the women of steel ran out 6-0 winners.

Craig Joyce made three changes to the starting line-up from last week’s clash with Glasgow City. Nicole Cairney and Abby Callaghan returned to the squad and stepped straight into the starting XI, replacing Rosie McQuillian and Chloe Muir, while Millie Paton made way for Megan Quigley.

It was a slow start for Queen’s Park as Motherwell found the back of the net in the 7th minute. The home side played out from the back as the ball travelled across to Mason Blyth-Clark. Clark floated a good ball over the top for Laura Berry to chase. Berry rounded the goalkeeper before cutting the ball back for Louisa Boyes to stab home, giving her side the lead.

The game then continued relatively even as both sides battled in the middle of the park to try create an opportunity. However, Motherwell had a big chance to double their lead as Bailey Collins and Laura Berry heavily pressed The Spider’s back line. After a collision, the ball fell to Berry who drove toward the by line and fizzed the ball across the face of goal for Collins to strike, but her effort sailed over the crossbar.

The Spiders’ persisted in their play as they continued to push forward and came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 21st minute. Ciara Bonner played a nice diagonal ball forwards towards Abby Callaghan which was cut out by Katie Rice. However, Lia Tweedie pounced on the second ball and threaded a perfect pass through for Callaghan. Unfortunately, her wide angle shot narrowly missed the target.

Four minutes later, Motherwell doubled their lead through Mason Blyth-Clark. Clark played the ball out wide to Bailey Collins, who found Louise Boyes at the edge of the box. Boyes slipped the ball through for Laura Berry who’s heavy touch cause commotion in the box. The ball eventually fell to Blyth-Clark who fired the ball into the back of the net.

Queen’s Park looked for a quick response as Lauren McGregor played the ball up the park. Megan Quigley picked up the seconds to send the ball over towards Nicole Cairney. Cairney played a neat clip over the defender to set Abby Callaghan for a strike towards goal, however, Callaghan’s effort was saved as she was deemed offside.

As we approached the half hour mark, Motherwell looked to find another. Katie Rice played the ball into the middle for Sophie Black. Black turned and fizzed a ball through for Laura Berry to chase. Berry drove towards goal and looked to fire the ball into the near post, but a strong save from Lauren McGregor denied the home side a third.

In the 40th minute, after a series of corners, the home side extended their lead to three. Sophie Black played a short corner to Bailey Collins positioned at the edge of the box. Collins shifted the ball onto her right foot before firing it into the bottom corner just before halftime.

Half-Time: Motherwell 4-0 Queen’s Park

The teams came back out for the second half as the winds picked up, making it more difficult to play. However, the second half began a bit more positively for Queen’s Park as they had a few good passages of play and were keeping the ball better.

Although a better start, Motherwell were on form as they netted their fourth of the afternoon in the 55th minute. Laura Berry and Bailey Collins pressed well as Queen’s Park tried to play out from the back. Collins regained possession and played the ball inside to Louisa Boyes at the edge of the box. Boyes manoeuvred her way through to the 6-yard line before firing the ball into the top right corner.

Despite being four down, The Spiders’ heads never dropped as they continued to push forwards and try get something out the game. They nearly broke through in the 60th minute as Ciara Bonner played an excellent ball forward to Abby Callaghan. Callaghan struck the ball on the half-volley but her effort was saved by Mutch. Two minutes later, Nicole Cairney had a strike from the edge of the 6-yard box, but Mutch did well once again to not concede.

In the 73rd minute, Queen’s Park’s efforts finally bore fruit as Rachel Wright picked the ball up out wide from a throw in. Wright twisted and turned before feeding the ball to Emma Craig in the middle of the park. Craig unleashed a thunderous shot from around 30 yards out, which sailed into the top corner to get one back for The Spiders.

Just five minutes later, Queen’s Park looked to threaten again as Darcy Molley embarked on a powerful run through the middle of the park. Moley found substitute Rosie McQuillian at the edge of the box who unleased a powerful strike that unfortunately sailed over the bar.

The Spider’s looked to be piling on the pressure as soon after, McQuillian intercepted a loose Motherwell pass and found Ami Robertson in the middle of the park. Robertson had a go from the edge of the box, but her effort was saved by Mutch.

Despite the loaded pressure, Motherwell struck back in the 82nd minute as they netted their fifth of the game. Lucy Ronald brought the ball down from a Queen’s Park goal kick, and played a one-two with Laura Berry before feeding Sarah Gibb down the line. Gibb drilled the ball across goal for Louisa Boyes to tap in, completing her hattrick.

Motherwell found time for one last goal in added time as Sienna McGoldrick picked the ball up in the middle of the park. McGoldrick surged forwards before sending Amy Sharkey through on goal. Sharkey took the ball to the byline before cutting it back to Sarah Gibb stationed in the middle of the 6-yard box. Gibb took a composed touch then fired the ball into the back of the net just before the final whistle.

Full-Time: Motherwell 6-1 Queen’s Park

Motherwell: Emily Mutch, Katie Rice, Chelsie Watson, Jenna Penman, Gill Inglis, Laura McCartney (Lucy Ronald, 46’), Mason Blyth-Clark (Amy Sharkey, 56’), Louisa Boyes (Sienna McGoldrick, 85’), Sophie Black (Sarah Gibb, 78’), Bailley Collins (Lucy Barclay, 78’), Laura Berry.
Subs not used: Rebecca Cameron, Rachel Todd.

Queen’s Park: Lauren McGregor, Hannah Cunningham, Ciara Bonner, Morgan Hay, Darcy Molley, Lia Tweedie (Rosie McQuillian, 66’), Emma Craig, Olivia King (Monica Harty, 85’), Nicole Cairney, Abby Callaghan (Ami Robertson, 66), Megan Quigley (Rachel Wright, 66’).
Subs not used: Lucy Inman, Charlize McFadyen, Millie Paton.