Queen’s Park 6 Livingston 0 – Spiders clinical at Kirkintilloch

Queen’s Park recorded their first win of the SWPL2 season with a 6-0 thrashing of Livingston WFC at Kirkintilloch Community Sports Complex.

Queen’s made four changes from their opening day defeat against Dundee United with Jasmine McPhee, Abbie Cusack, Dara Ositelu, and Sophie Rutherford all being named in the starting 11.

Just four minutes into the game, Abbie Cusack showed why she deserved her start. A whipped free-kick from Ellie Kane wasn’t dealt with by the Livi defence, and Abbie was on hand to poke the ball into the net.

Dara Ositelu gave The Spiders some much-needed breathing room in the 16th minute. Sophie Rutherford created space for herself on the left wing and floated in a cross. The ball bounced off the top of the crossbar before falling to Dara at the back-post, who headed past the keeper.

In the 31st minute, Emma Craig stepped up to take a free-kick on the edge of the box. Her shot was low and powerful towards the bottom corner, but a brilliant diving save from Chloe Gibney kept the ball out.

Five minutes later, Ellie Kane added The Spiders’ third. After winning a free-kick just outside the box, Ellie stepped up to take it, and her low effort took a deflection off the wall and found its way into the bottom corner, her second free-kick goal at Kirkintilloch CSC in as many games.

In the 40th minute, Ellie added her second. A cross from Cusack found Kane midway inside the box, who excellently swept the ball past the keeper into the far corner.

Just before half-time, Livingston created a brilliant one-on-one opportunity. A well-delivered over-the-top through ball found Justine Strain, who looked to shoot across Jasmine McPhee, but the keeper made a brilliant save off her right boot to ensure The Spiders held a clean sheet at the break.

HT: Queen’s Park 4 Livingston 0

Livingston came flying out in the second half and created a number of great chances, but some incredible goalkeeping from McPhee kept them out.

In the 84th minute, Abbie Cusack got her brace. A cross from Summer Thomson found Cusack in the box, who beat the keeper before fighting off her defender to finish from close range.

Dissatisfied with just the one goal contribution, Summer Thomson scored a goal of her own in the 91st minute. A low cross from Emma Craig found Summer in the box, who finished past the keeper with her first touch.

FT: Queen’s Park 6 Livingston 0

As well as lifting Queen’s Park up to 4th in the SWPL2 on goal difference, Sunday’s result is also Queen’s first win at Kirkintilloch CSC since moving to the stadium ahead of the 25/26 season.

Next up for The Spiders is a trip to Perth to face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on the 31st of August.

Queens Park:
Jasmine McPhee, Morgan Hay, Rachael O’Neill, Ellie MacDonald, Emma Craig, Sophie Rutherford (Summer Thomson 66’), Abby Callaghan (C) (Rachel Wright 56’), Ellie Kane (Charlize McFadyen 66’), Abbie Cusack, Dara Ositelu (Jemma McQuillan 56’), Murron Cunningham (Claire Adams 66’).

Substitutes not used:
Ciara Bonner, Rosie McQuillan, Natalie Angelini