Heavy defeat – but top five confirmed

Aberdeen Women were defeated 4-1 against Glasgow City at Petershill Park in yesterday’s penultimate fixture of the SWPL 1 season.

The Dons sealed a topfive finish despite the loss.

Glasgow City took control of the game early doors, and Vital Kats put them 1-0 up in the 18th minute, but the Dons deservedly went into half-time level, after Donna Paterson netted in the 38th minute.

But the home side were notably better in the second half, and goals from Scotland internationals Abbi Grant (two) and Lauren Davidson, saw Glasgow City claim all three points. The 4-1 defeat means that Aberdeen have failed to pick up any points against the league’s top three – and professional – sides this term.

The Dons forced the ball into City’s half in the opening exchanges, and were able to create half chances as Bayley Hutchison got a shot away, before playing a neat pass that almost sent Eva Thomson through on goal.

As the game progressed, Glasgow City dominated and were able to move the ball in the final third, but they struggled to effectively break down Aberdeen’s backline in open play.

However, they took the lead from a set-piece in the 18th minute, as Kats’ header found the back of the net.

There were no real chances for either side thereafter, until Eilidh Shore’s shot from the halfway line almost caught out City goalkeeper Erin Clachers.

Aberdeen deservedly pulled level seven minutes before half-time as 16-yearold Millie Urquhart won a foul against Lauren Davidson, with the resulting free-kick whipped in by Collins, which Paterson side-footed into the net from close range.

Despite Glasgow City having much more of the ball, it would have been Emma Hunter and Gavin Beith who were the happier of the managers going into half-time.

The Dons found themselves behind within the first five minutes of the second half.

Priscilla Chinchilla’s effort from outside the box hit the crossbar, which allowed substitute Grant to fire the rebound into the net for 2-1.

Chinchilla, this season’s PFA Scotland Women’s Player of the Year, helped Glasgow City move up a gear and Aaliyah-Jay Meach had to pull off a great save to keep the score at 2-1 after a curling effort.

Glasgow City extended their lead in the 63rd minute as Chinchilla was involved again, laying off Davidson, who fired the ball into the bottom corner at the near post.

Grant got her second of the evening and Glasgow City’s fourth, after a Niamh Farrelly pass split Aberdeen’s defence, which allowed the Leicester City loanee the time and space to score with a curling shot from inside the box.