U15s: Hamilton 1 - Motherwell 2 (21/4/12)

By Colette Carr

It was joy for Motherwell, as a host of missed chances were Accies downfall in the League Cup Quarter Final.

Three first half goals decided the tie, and the first almost came straight from kick-off. It looked as though Motherwell had nicked the lead, but Hamilton keeper Megan Ramsey did enough to tip the diagonal strike round the post, saving the hosts from trailing early. 
 
For the next ten minutes good chances were made for both sides as both defences were kept busy in an open game. 
 
Hamilton’s Laura Gallon tested the Well’s keeper, as her good attempt from out wide forced the out of position keeper to back track to pull off an impressive save.  The game was becoming increasingly even as Accies played through the midfield, while Motherwell tried a more direct approach from back to front. 
 
Hamilton’s Shauna Flynn did well to take the ball from the left wing inside, beating lunging Motherwell girls with her quick feet, but held on too long, and the ball was soon in the other half.  Great link up play by  the visitors took the ball into the box, a curling strike parried by Megan Ramsey, with the rebound being mishit, keeping the score goal-less.

The scoring was opened on the fifteenth minute mark by Motherwell as a corner from Hamilton’s Sam MacMillan fell short, landing at the feet of a Well defender, setting herfree on the counter. Sharp, clinical passes up the field culminated in a low drive resting in the bottom right of Accies goal. 

Driven on by their goal, Motherwell stepped up their game, digging hard and creating clear chances, but Hamilton found themselves with two opportunities within a minute of each other, as the ball worked its way into the box, but was held at the feet of the forward by Motherwell’s keeper, and then Sam MacMillan’s effort from 25 yards just missing the goal by a foot, despite the keeper being well beaten on twenty minutes.

Moments later, a defence splitting pass to Helena Montague in the box, was miskicked by the keeper, and allowed Helena to roll the ball into the empty net for one each after 23 minutes. 

Motherwell responded well to conceding, and upped the tempo, their even more controlled football surprising Hamilton, completing passes and punishing Hamilton making them second to every ball.  Motherwell only had to wait five minutes however, as on the twenty seventh minute, their efforts found them back on top.  A through ball controlled by the centre forward was dispatched into the top corner, proving unstoppable, even for the impressive Accies keeper.

The first 35 finished with Accies leaving the impression, Shauna Flynn shooting from great distance only narrowly placing it over the bar, before the whistle.

The second half began with a bang, as Accies found themselves miss a couple of great chances, which they may rue.  Hamilton’s renewed vigour caught Motherwell off guard as on the fifty minute mark the Well keeper pulled off a great reaction save to deflect the ball for a corner.

Motherwell, however, were in no mood to fall back and play second best and moments later regained possession, and struck from the edge of the box, the speed and power of the ball causing Ramsey to spill, but her quick reactions allowed her to recover and punt the ball back out to safety.  From then on, it was again a game of end to end football, keeping each defence on their toes. On fifty seven minutes, Olivia MacMahon sent a low strike from twenty yards goal ward, the great attempt inching just past the post.  After an hour of play, Hamilton keeper Megan Ramsey stepped up to the plate, taking command of her box, with a terrific save from the Motherwell free kick on the right wing.  Five minutes later, Motherwell came close again, a long ball delivered to the box, seeing the forward miss the goal from close range.  The Motherwell attack on goal saw Accies sweeper Clare Campbell use her ability to read the game well and clever timing to repeatedly shut down Motherwell’s advances. 

Despite Hamilton’s strong defending and hunger to find goal, the game ended two one with Motherwell advancing in the competition.

After the hard fought match, Accies will be upset they couldn’t take the game to a replay.  With Motherwell controlling the first period, Hamilton held their own in the second, and coaches William Brown and Chris Madden felt a bit hard done by.  They agreed that their young girls did well against the strong well established team, however, with finishes going missing, they felt they had been unlucky, but still work had to be done.

Hamilton Teamline: Clare Campbell, Colette D’Ambrosio, Kathleen Toolan, Darcy Molley, Megan Ramsey, Helena Montague, Samantha MacMillan, Caitlin Kelly, Ciara McLean, Alana McBrearty, Rhiannon Brown, Laura Gallon, Olivia MacMahon, Ashley Love, Shauna Flynn