Women’s football kicks off for the season

‘We are back in business – the 2012 season has begun,’ says Laura Montgomery reporting on the Glasgow Premier League of women’s football.

Glasgow City got the new 2012 season off with a bang with a resounding 10-0 victory over Kilmarnock in Ayrshire in the first round of the Premier League Cup.

With a number of players out with a virus and nine City players involved in recent international action, Head Coach Eddie Wolecki Black had fewer than usual to choose from. As always, the players who did take to the field, did not let City down.

Killie nearly pulled off an instant shock when City’s Lee Alexander was forced to pull off a good save at the feet of the Killie striker to keep her side level after five minutes. That was Killie’s only real chance of the match. City went on to dominate play and possession for the rest of the game.

New signing, Julie Melrose got her own City account off to a great start with a goal on 14 minutes reacting first to a saved Leanne Ross shot, to fire into the back of the net.

Minutes later, City doubled their account when the busy Jo Love scored from a Jane Ross cross. Love then doubled her tally scoring her side’s third goal on 24 minutes after she was put through by Leanne Ross.

On the half hour mark, Jane Ross got her tally underway and three minutes before half time, full back Ciara Barnes linked brilliantly with Jo Love to score a fine team goal. A minute before the break and Melrose found the back of the net again, this time converting a Jane Ross cross from the by-line. The half time score was 0-6

In the second half, City kept the pressure on the home side. Shortly after the whistle got the game underway again, Jane Ross scored a great strike from outside the box. The Scotland and City striker was soon on target again, this time making space for herself inside the box before shooting past the helpless Killie keeper.

Substitute Eilish McSorley scored with a good header from a City corner on 75 minutes and with ten minutes remaining, Leanne Ross tucked another one away to make it 10-0 to the Scottish Champions.

Head Coach Eddie Wolecki Black said, ‘I am delighted we are through to the next round which is always the main objective. We were on a really heavy pitch today, so I was pleased with how well we moved the ball around. And we scored some really good goals. The fact that we were down to 12 fit players out of our squad of 20 perhaps says it all. But it shows the strength and quality of our squad that the girls who played today, did a really good job. Credit must go to Kilmarnock who never gave up. I felt they worked their socks off for 90 minutes and never made it easy for us.’

 

Full results round up:

First Round Scottish Premier League Cup:

Kilmarnock 0 v 10 Glasgow City: City – Jane Ross (3), Julie Melrose (2), Jo Love (2), Ciara Barnes (1), Leanne Ross (1), Eilish McSorley (1)

Celtic 1 v 0 Hibernian: Celtic – Heather Richards (1).

Rangers 8 v 1 Falkirk: Rangers – Jen Callaghan (4), Alana Marshall (1), Cheryl Gallacher (1), Kirsty McLaughlin (1). Falkirk – Sarah Quilitti (OG), Sinead Goi McLean (1).

Hutchison Vale 1 v 3 Aberdeen: Hutchie – Laura Dunn (1). Aberdeen (tbc)

 

For more details see:

www.glasgowcityladiesfc.co.uk

Twitter: @GlasgowCityFC

Facebook: Glasgowcity Fc

Football ladies have Henson in their sights

Glasgow City stormed into the Henson Scottish Cup Final following a 3-0 win over Celtic at Ravenscraig on Wednesday 19 October.

Following  their League victory over the Hoops last Sunday, City opened the scoring through ex Celt Emma Woolley when she latched on to a shot from Emma Mitchell which Fay in the Celtic nets could only turn on to the bar.

It was 2-0 before half time after Eilish McSorley converted after Kat Lindner had cut the ball back from the goal line.

Substitute Danica Dalziel ensured City’s progression into the final when she scored in the last few minutes to make it 3-0.

Commenting on City’s progression into the final, Assistant First Team Coach Donald Jennow said, ‘The objective of tonight was to get to the final which we have done successfully. We set a target of maximising our fixtures up to the end of the season, and so far we have achieved what we set out to do. We aim to push on further from here. It was not our best performance tonight, by any means, but we can take positives from it. Once again the girls showed they can perform in pressure situations and we are delighted to be in the Cup Final.’

City will know their opponents when Hibernian take on Celtic Reserves in the other semi-final. The final will take place at Toryglen on Saturday 12th November.

 Follow Glasgow City ladies football team on: www.glasgowcityladiesfc.co.uk or Twitter: @GlasgowCityFC or Facebook: Glasgowcity Fc

Women footballers net world top status

Scottish Champions, Glasgow City Football Team is through to the last 32 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. They will know on Tuesday who they will play when the draw is made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
The team qualified when they beat Klaksvik in Serbia 5-0. This ensured that City topped Group 5 with three wins out of three, scoring 17 goals and conceding none. In turn, they became the first Scottish team ever to reach the last 32, knock-out stages of Europe’s most elite club competition.
Said Head Coach Eddie Wolecki Black: ‘I am delighted we have gone through and to be honest, we thoroughly deserved it. We can now look forward to a really challenging end to the season. I am proud of the players for all of their hard work and dedication. They deserve to play at the highest level in European football.’
On the day, Glasgow City defender, Rachel Corsie celebrated her 22nd birthday, captaining the team. Goals from Katharina Lindner (2) Leanne Ross, Jo Love and Eilish McSorley ensured City’s place in history.
To fund the next stage of their progression upwards, they will host a Sports Person’s Dinner on Friday 26 August at the Art Club, 185 Bath Street in Glasgow’s city centre. The trip to Serbia alone, cost £15,000. There are a few seats remaining at £40 per person and sponsor spots of £100 are on offer. The beautiful venue, three course meal and first class speakers in Kenny Clarke and Sandy Strang make for an inviting evening. Contact Laura Montgomery, Manager on: chairperson@glasgowcityladiesfc.co.uk Eddie will fly out on Tuesday 23 August to Nyon for the draw. His team is now seeded 20th in Europe. The top 16 seeds do not need to qualify and City expect to be drawn against stiff competition. Said Eddie: ‘This gives our girls the chance, once more, to really test themselves against some of the best in the world. Naturally, we’d like to avoid the Germans and the French. And we’d prefer not to face the might of Arsenal who are No.2 seed. But we are under no illusions. We may even be the only completely amateur team still in the competition so no matter who we get, we will need to be at our very, very best.’

City’s home leg will be played on either Wednesday 28 or Thursday 29 September at Petershill Park,  Springburn, Glasgow, their home ground. ‘Not too shabby for an amateur side.’ comments Laura Montgomery Club manager and reporter for all the games.

Glasgow City stay top of the League

by Laura Montgomery

Glasgow City ladies football team continue to set the pace at the top of the Premier League, with two goals in each half to end up 4-0 winners over Hamilton Accies at Glasgow Green on Sunday 19 September.
A well worked short corner saw Emma Fernon deliver to the head of Rachel Corsie and she nodded down to centre half, Eilish McSorley to fire home City’s first goal from inside the box.
City almost went 2-0 up moments later when Emma Mitchell fired a fantastic right foot volley from the far right hand side of the box, inches over the Accies goal.
On 17 minutes,  Mitchell did however get on to the scoresheet, converting a penalty after City striker Kat Lindner had jinked her way around the Accies keeper Lee Alexander, only to be brought down by the Hamilton number 1, as she was about to shoot into the back of the net.
Alexander was soon to make amends, as she pulled off a number of good saves for the visitors throughout the match. In particular, she held on well to two shots from City’s Jane Ross, as the home side pushed for number three before the break.

Half time score 2-0.

In the second half, it continued to be virtually one way traffic as Accies tried to stem the flow of City attacks. They held out well, with Alexander again in top form, but the keeper was unable to do anything about a strike from Megan Sneddon which fired into the back of the net off the keeper’s left hand post.

Goal 4 for City came from substitute Ruesha Littlejohn and City almost made it 5-0 in the dying moments of the game. A one-two at the edge of the box involving Jane Ross and Lindner saw the German striker slide the ball into the path of McMurchie, but her powerful strike was miraculously tipped over the bar by Alexander.

Commenting on the match, Head Coach Eddie Wolecki said, ‘We controlled the match throughout, creating numerous chances and I am delighted with the 4-0 win. The girls have worked hard to keep another clean sheet and to maintain a good level of performance particular after we had a few disruptions in our normal training regime due to injuries and internationals.’