Sunday, 6th June 2021
Scottish Women’s Premier League 2
Hamilton Academical 5–0 Queen’s Park (Quigley 16’, Giard 41’, 64’, McGovern 59’, Kane 68’)
Queen’s Park suffered a 5–0 defeat in their first competitive match of 2021 at the hands of a well-organised Hamilton side on Sunday, 6th June, in the eleventh round of the Scottish Building Society SWPL 2. With no pre-season friendlies played due to the Covid-19 restrictions in place, it was always going to be a tough game – but the Spiders held their own, especially in the first half.
The first ten minutes were fairly even, with both teams trying to find their rhythm after the lengthy hiatus, and with no real opportunities for either side. The first chance of the game fell to Queen’s Park in the 13th minute, when Mhairi Fyfe found herself in a great position as she was one-on-one with Sarah Rhind, but her shot was comfortably dealt with by the Hamilton goalkeeper. Less than three minutes later, the home side took the lead through midfielder Megan Quigley.
The early goal seemed to give the hosts a lift, and they continued to create chances, defending well and looking dangerous on the counter-attack. Sophie McGoldrick took a shot in the 20th minute, but it lacked power, and Rhind was able to collect it with ease. The home side then doubled their lead in the 41st minute, this time with a goal by Josephine Giard, who had been arguably Hamilton’s biggest threat in the first half, along with Kathleen McGovern.
Hamilton came out for the second half looking confident, and McGovern forced Katie Andrews into a save ten minutes after the restart. McGovern did eventually make it 3–0 to the hosts, when she found herself one-on-one with Andrews a few minutes later and took the ball round her before placing it into the back of the net. The Spiders found themselves struggling to break down a resolute and well-organised Accies defence and to create any clear-cut chances. Chloe Docherty and McGoldrick both tried their luck with shots from distance, but they didn’t trouble Rhind. Giard then got her second of the afternoon in the 64th minute, and Ellie Kane made it five-nil a few moments later, heading home from a corner.
Queen’s Park are back in SWPL 2 action on Wednesday, 9th June 2021 against Aberdeen at home.
QUEEN’S PARK STARTING XI: Katie Andrews (GK), Helen McLeod, Lauren Ray (C), Megan Wands (Frances Hopgood, 67’), Ho Wan Tung (Samantha Davies, 73’), Emily Shearer, Louisa Boyes, Chloe Docherty, Demi Potts (Hannah Fulton, 67’), Sophie McGoldrick (Christine MacKinnon, 73’), Mhairi Fyfe.
HAMILTON ACADEMICAL STARTING XI: Sarah Rhind (GK), Nicole Cairney (Lauren Evans, 57’), Hannah Coakley, Fiona Cullie (MT Gardiner, 57’), Ellie Kane, Kathleen McGovern (Hannah Scott, 67’), Georgina McTear, Darcy Molley, Megan Quigley, Megan Quinn (C; Danielle Connolly, 73’), Josephine Giard (Rachael O’Neill, 73’) | SUBSTITUTES: Lauren Grant (GK), Lisa Kerr.