League Cup Semi Final win for Spartans Womens 1st XI

Posted on Thursday, October 9th, 2008

SPARTANS beat Hibernian 5-3 in what can only be described as a tremendous Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup semi-final under the floodlights at Riccarton.

The lighting may not have been good enough to take action pictures in this semi-final, but both Spartans and Hibernian made this a fantastic occasion and the best possible advert for women‘s football. I have always been intrigued by the title of teams at this level and the word ‘Ladies’ is incorporated in to the name of many of the women’s teams. When I looked up the word ‘lady’ in a dictionary is said ‘gracious and well-mannered’! That may be correct, but it was certainly not gracious and well-mannered at Riccarton, where the far-side referee’s assistant had to warn players, several times, not to swear at him! I thought men’s – or should it be gentlemen’s – football was passionate, tough and committed, but these two team of women/ladies more than matched their male counterparts!

Every blade of grass on the big, enclosed pitch belonging to Heriot-Watt University was covered by these two ultra-fit teams. Spartans started at a high-tempo and they had a real shining star in Diana Barry, in the No 9, jersey. The former St Augustine’s High School pupil was the difference between the two sides and she went on to cap a great performance by scoring four of her side’s five goals. Another star in the making in this cup semi-final was referee, Lorraine Clark, one of the best and fittest young match officials I have seen. In terms of fitness, Lorraine was a match for any player on the pitch and her control of the game, particularly in the second half when the tackles were flying in – believe me, they were – was brilliant.

Barry’s pace and direct running caused the Hibernian defence to give away two first half penalties with the Spartans flying No 9 brought down on both occasions in runs at the Hibs goal. Barry showed great composure to hammer both spot-kicks past opposition goalkeeper, Gemma Fay, to put her side 2-0 up. Hibs were certainly not idle, either, and they had a chance to open their account from a free-kick on the left side of the 18yd box after Barry had opened the scoring, but the delivery was poor and the chance passed. Jo Murray had a good run on the right to put pressure on the Spartans defence, but goalkeeper Joanna Hutcheson collected the ball when it came over in to the goalmouth.

The blistering pace of the game continued unabated and the tackles were tough, to say the least, but Spartans had the edge when they attacked the Hibernian goal. Laura Kennedy was denied a goal by a superb save from Joanne Hutcheson and it was the turn of the girls in green to have a good spell of attacking play. The action in the Spartans goal continued and a Murray shot was deflected past for a corner. Lisa Robertson had a great run halted by a crunching tackle, but the resultant free-kick was wasted. Then Stacey Cook was felled in the Spartans penalty box by Michelle Kerr, but the referee was right up with play and waved aside the Hibernian claims for a spot-kick. Hutcheson again was brilliant in blocking what appeared to be a certain goal from Suzanne Grant.

This fantastic game of football was watched by a very good turnout of fans of the women’s/ladies game and the amazing pace and commitment of the players was outstanding. It was a bad blow for Hibernian when Barry scored her second spot-kick but they kept up their passing game and they were rewarded when Grant reduced the deficit to 2-1 with an outstanding lob over the advancing Hutcheson to make it 2-1 at the half-way stage of this uncompromising semi-final clash.

Shortly after the restart, it was ’game on’ when a brilliant lofted shot from Grant crashed down from the underside of the crossbar and over the goal-line to make it 2-2. Their was panic in the Hibernian goalmouth when Spartans upped the pace again and, with Barry leading the attack, it took three attempts by Fay to get control of the ball. With Spartans on the rampage, Debbie McWhinnie blasted a good chance away over the Hibernian crossbar. At the other end, it took a superlative save from Hutcheson to deny Burns. With the game finely balanced, it was Barry, again, who showed her class when she got in behind the Hibernian defence to get a foot to a bouncing ball and knock it past Fay to put Spartans back in front at 3-2.

Then a good hook shot from McWhinnie was well held by Fay and the tackling got even tougher. Barry felt the full force of one tackle when she was sent flying and the Spartans No 9 needed attention before she could continue. The Hibernian defence was breached again in another mass attack on their goal and Barry made it 4-2, scoring from close in after a shot was deflected in to her path in front of goal.

It was all-Spartans in the closing stages and they went on to go three goals in front when Hayley Lauder netted when Fay could only parry a fierce shot from Barry. In another good attack on the Hibernian goal, Danielle Pagliarulo, had a good effort blocked by the overworked Fay. Former Craigmount High School pupil, the classy Claire Crosby, was another Spartans player who was hurt in the tough exchanges in the second half.

In a wonderful finish to this brilliant game of football, Hibernian scored a late, late goal to make the final scoreline 5-3. Spartans now go on to play Glasgow City in the final at Forthbank in Stirling on Saturday, November 8. Anne McConaghy, chairperson of the League Management Committee, said: “Glasgow City beat Celtic 3-1 in the other semi-final and the final against Spartans at Forthbank should be another very good game!” Possibly, but it will have to go some to be better than the semi-final at Riccarton! Final word at the immaculate Heriot-Watt venue went to the supporter in the wheelchair, who was singing(?): “We love you Spartans, yes we do!”

Hibernian – Gemma Fay, Mariel Kaney, Amanda Burns, Stacey Cook, Frankie Brown, Lisa Robertson, Suzanna Grant, Kirsty McBride, Jo Murray, Tracey Burns, Laura Kennedy, Nichola Sturrock, Hollie Thomson, Rhonda Jones.

Spartans -Joanna Hutcheson, Michelle Faughan, Siobhan Rooney, Clair Crosbie, Michelle Kerr, Danielle Pagliarulo, Hayley Lauder, Stacey Calder, Diana Barry, Molly McKean, Debbie McWhinnie, Sarah Archibald, Patricia McLaughlin, Julie Melrose, Kate MacGillivray, Louise Young, Louise Moultray.

Referee – Lorraine Clark; assistants – Ian Kelly and Peter Stuart.

Thank you to Ian Mackay for the match report