Winning start in SWPL 1 bow
Motherwell seal impressive win
Motherwell got their SWPL 1 campaign off to a winning start, defeating Stirling University 1-0 at Fir Park on Sunday.
Captain Kerry Montgomery’s wonder strike was enough to ensure the three points stayed in Lanarkshire, with a clean sheet an additional bonus.
It was a nervy start for ‘Well. An early mix up at the back nearly gifted Eva Rule an early goal but home keeper Morgan Hunter, making her first appearance in claret and amber, saw the danger and tracked back to clear the danger.
The women of steel grew more into the game and the first chance fell to Scotland international Sarah Crilly.
The winger burst down the right, producing a dangerous looking cross only for the ball to be scrambled clear by the Stirling defence.
With just under half an hour played, the hosts came the closest to drawing first blood.
Stephanie Knox was at the back post from the corner kick when the cross came over but she just couldn’t poke it over the line.
It was honours even at the end of the first half, with both sides unable to find the net.
The start of the second half mirrored that of the first, Stirling started brightly but their attacking threat didn’t pose too many issues for Hunter.
The deadlock was finally broken just after the hour when Montgomery opened Motherwell’s SWPL 1 scoring account in outstanding fashion.
The captain picked up a pass from the left wing, dribbled into space and, after spotting the keeper off her line, unleashed a rocket of a strike from her right foot that flew into the roof of the net.
Motherwell came so close to increasing their advantage shortly after, but struck the frame of the goal twice in a matter of minutes.