Queen's turn on the style to beat Stirling University 4-0 at New Tinto Park on Sunday.
Coach Barry Rogers made five changes to his starting eleven from last week’s Kilmarnock game. Eve Payne, Hannah Fulton, Abbi McDonald, Frances Hopgood and Rachel Connor replacing Courtney Whyte, Sarah McLeod, Abby Callaghan, Summer Christie and Eleanor Smith.
A beautiful sunny warm day greeted the sides to New Tinto Park for the third meeting of the sides this season. Both previous meetings ending in a 2-0 win for the away team.
Queen’s kicked off with a strong wind at their backs and pressed right from the start. Both Nicole Cairney on the right and Rachel Connor on the left were using their speed and the width of the pitch to get past the Stirling defence and play testing balls into the students’ box.
In the 10th minute Queen’s had their first real chance when Rachel Connor cut past two defenders and fired in a shot for 20 yards out which narrowly missed the bar.
Three minutes later Abbi McDonald opened the scoring when she latched onto a poor clearance, eight yards out, and calmly lifted the ball into the far corner of the net.
In the 20th minute, after a great run and cross by Nicole Cairney down the right wing, Rachel Connor connected with the ball only to be denied by great goalkeeping by Ellie Mitchell, in goal for Stirling University.
Three minutes later Queen’s added a second. Holly McIndoe picked the ball up wide right 25 yards out and sent over a ball which evaded the Stirling keeper and ended up in the net.
In the 30th minute Queen’s added a third. From a corner on the right the ball played into the Stirling box. Lauren Rae was quick to react to a through ball to knock the ball, past the defenders, into the corner of the net from three yards out.
In the 37th minute Lauren Ray had a chance to double her total, but the Stirling keeper pulled of yet another great save to deny Lauren
Half-time: Queen’s Park 3 Stirling University 0
Despite having the wind in their faces Queen’s started the second half as they finished the first. Looking to dominate the game.
Two minutes in Hannah Fulton, who along with Frances Hopgood were controlling the midfield, had a shot from 20 yards out which narrowly missed the target.
The game battled back and forth for most of the second half. Stirling had a period when they were in possession and making moves in the Queen’s half, but Rachael Caddell, in the Queen’s goal, was rarely called into action.
Queen’s added a fourth in the 89th minute when Sarah MacLeod ran onto a through ball that caught out the Stirling defence and hit a great strike across the advancing keeper into the far corner of the net.
Full-time: Queen’s Park 4 Stirling University 0
Queen’s Park: Rachael Caddell, Nina Fitzsimmons, Lauren Rae (Louise McIntyre 63′), Eva Payne (Summer Christie 85′), Hannah Fulton (Sarah MacLeod 85′), Abbie McDonald, Frances Hopgood, Nicole Cairney, Rachel Connor, Ellie Kane (Sophie Payne 71′), Holly McIndoe.
Stirling University: Ellie Mitchell, Rebecca Hellgren, Holly Watson, Sophie McKay (Maria Ryshchina 60′), Ciara Bonner, Lauren Hill (Lucy Jackman 60′), Rebecca Robertson, Emma Lyons, Chenoa Rainer (Holly McEwan 78′), Jodie Malcolm, Jenifer Mackenzie (Emma Fairgrieve 60′). Subs not used: Iris Ramage, Mariluz Sanchez, Emma Gullan.