A hat-trick by captain Ellie Kane and a double by Emma Craig gave Queen's the best possible start to the new SWPL 2 season in Airdrie on Sunday.
Queen’s took to the pitch at MTC Park, Airdrie for their first game of the new SWPL2 season with a squad that included five players in the starting eleven making their debut for the Spiders and three more on the bench.
It was Gartcairn who started the game more positively with a goal in the fourth minute. From a throw-in on the right, a Gartcairn player picked up the ball, got behind the Queen’s defence and crossed the ball to the back post for Rachel Howe to knock the ball home from 10 yards out.
Queen’s immediately responded with an attack down the right which ended with Ellie Kane, in her new roles as striker, testing Katie Andrew, in goal for Gartcairn.
Queen’s debutant keeper Lauren McGregor had to react speedly in the 14th minute to block a Gartcairn shot.
Queen’s were now beginning to find their feet with Monica Harty, Leah Daly and Megan Quigley combining well to move the ball beyond the Gartcairn defenders.
Nicole Cairney , wide left, was enjoying the supply of the ball and in the 15th minute she raced past a defender, delivered a superb low cross into the Gartcairn six yards box that resulted in Megan Quigley having a shot on goal.
One minute later Queen’s equalised. Leah Daly intercepted a ball out of defence, played a through ball to Emma Craig who sped past two defenders before smashing the ball past the keeper into the net.
In the 30th minute Queen’s took the lead. Leah Daly was brought down 30 yards out from goal. Ellie Kane took the free-kick and fired an unstoppable shot into the top right corner of the net.
Six minutes from half time Ellie Kane stepped onto a long clearance from Lauren McGregor, raced into the Gartcairn box and fired a low shot inside the near post to make the score 3-1 to Queen’s.
Ellie could have competed her hat-trick two minutes later when she drove into the Gartcairn box, this time on the left, and hit a shot across the keeper only to see it hit the far post and rebound to safety.
Half-time: Gartcairn 1 Queen’s Park 3
The Spiders had the best possible start to the second half when, in the 47th minute, after some really creative midfield passing, Nicole Cairney slipped the ball to Emma Craig who knocked the ball past a defender and shot for goal. The ball took a deflection on its way to goal to make the score 4-1.
Queen’s made their first substitution in the 56th minute when Abby Callaghan replaced Megan Quigley.
In the 70th minute Lauren McGregor was quick off her line to dive at the feet of the in-rushing Abby Skelton to deny a goal scoring opportunity.
In the 74th minute Emma Craig was replaced by Caitlin McKee.
Ten minutes later Ellie got her hat-trick. The referee awarded a penalty when a Gartcairn played handled the ball inside the box. Ellie Kane stepped up and knocked the ball low to the keeper’s left to score her third and Queen’s fifth of the day.
Queen’s made a triple substitution in the 87th minute with Rachael O’Neill, Leah Daly and Monica Harty leaving the field allowing Rachael McConnachie, Hannah Fulton and Rachel Ross some minutes.
Full-time: Gartcairn 1 Queen’s Park 5
Squads
Starting Eleven
