Queen’s Park secured a hard-fought ticket to the second round of the Sky Sports Cup with a late 1-0 victory over Glasgow Women after extra time.
Returning to New Tinto Park for the third consecutive week, Queen’s Park found themselves up against Glasgow Women once more, this time in the Sky Sports Cup. Following their dominant performance, the previous week, the Spiders were eager to replicate that form and advance to the next round.
Craig Joyce made three changes from last week’s clash against Glasgow Women. Emma Craig, Eleanor Smith and Monica Harty came into the starting XI while Ellie Kane and Nicole Cairney took to the bench. Notably, Rachel O’Neill donned the captain’s armband for the day, and Lucy Inman was in the matchday squad for the first time.
The match started off relatively quietly, with the ball predominantly residing in the middle of the park. The first opportunity arose from a freekick for Glasgow Women just wide of the 18-yard box. Olivia King stepped up to take the freekick, but her effort was expertly matched by Lauren McGregor in the Queen’s Park goal.
The game remained scrappy, with neither side managing to create any clear-cut chances. The Spiders ventured into the attacking third and earned numerous corners, yet they were unable to capitalise on these set-piece opportunities.
Glasgow Women threatened around the 40th minute when Kayleigh Barghatti played Rebecca McGarvey through on the left flank. McGarvey unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box towards the top right corner. However, McGregor pulled off a remarkable save, keeping the score level.
Half-Time: Queen’s Park 0-0 Glasgow Women
The second half begun much like the first. Queen’s Park were passing the ball around nicely but neither team were able to create the breakthrough they’d been hunting for.
Glasgow Women looked to have finally got their chance when a Queen’s Park corner presented them with the chance to launch a fast counterattack in the 60th minute. Nikki Simonette launched the ball forward, finding Morgan Anderson, who played Kayleigh Barghati through for a one-on-one with McGregor. Barghati drove into the space and took the shot, but McGregor once again denied the Glasgow striker, keeping the Spiders in the game.
Queen’s Park’s first real chance of the game came on the 75th minute. A great combination down the left-hand side involving O’Neill and substitutes Cairney and Caitlin McKee led to a cross from McKee into the box, where Abby Callaghan awaited. Callaghan controlled the ball and fired toward the goal, but her effort narrowly missed the post.
After 90 minutes of action, the teams remained deadlocked, and an additional 30 minutes of extra time were played in search of a breakthrough.
Full-Time: Queen’s Park 0-0 Glasgow Women
The Spiders came out for the start of additional time more connected. They were moving the ball well with some nice passages of play and started to create some well-deserved chances. In the 96th minute, McKee drove down the right wing and delivered a cross into the box. Although her effort was blocked and cleared, it fell perfectly to Ellie Kane, who drilled the ball across the box to Ciara Bonner at the back post. Bonner fired toward the goal, forcing Glasgow’s Khym Ramsay to make a crucial save.
Just five minutes later, Queen’s Park threatened once again. Cairney regained possession in midfield and laid it off to Emma Craig, who played in Bonner on the left. Bonner delivered an excellent ball forward to Callaghan in the box, but Callaghan’s effort was saved by Ramsay guarding the Glasgow goal.
Glasgow thought they had a chance to go ahead when they broke out on another fast counterattack. The ball was cleared away, finding Barghati, who then played in substitute Niamh Scott for another one-on-one with McGregor. However, McGregor stood tall and comfortably blocked Scott’s effort towards the goal.
The Spider’s finally seized their moment in the 120th minute. Eleanor Smith retrieved a loose ball at the corner of the 18-yard box and laid it off to Cairney out wide. Cairney navigated brilliantly through four Glasgow players before passing the ball into the path of none other than Ellie Kane. Kane rose to the occasion, took a touch, and unleashed a thunderous strike into the back of the net, securing Queen’s Park’s passage to the next round of the Sky Sports Cup.
Full-Time (AET): Queen’s Park 1-0 Glasgow Women
Queen’s Park: Lauren McGregor, Ciara Bonner (Rachel Ross, 106’), Rachael O’Neill, Eleanor Smith, Darcy Molley (Rachael McConnachie, 106’), Leah Daly, Robin Gallagher (Caitlin McKee, 61’), Megan Quigley (Nicole Cairney, 61’), Monica Harty (Ellie Kane, 82’), Emma Craig, Abby Callaghan.
Subs not used: Chloe Gibney, Lucy Inman, Eve Pollock.
Glasgow Women: Khym Ramsay, Phillipa MacConnell, Nikki Simonette, Charmaine McGuire, Rebecca McGarvery, Mhairi Lyle, Emma Rodgers (Monica Smith, 94’), Olivia King, Kayleigh Barghati, Morgan Anderson (Niamh Scott, 106’), Brooke Shields (Elise Wieringa, 75’).
Subs not used: Maura Paterson, Leah Donnelly, Zoe Main, Laura Cheshire, Niamh Kinsella.
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