Rangers v Hibernian

Rangers Ladies Development 0-3 Hibernian Ladies 23s
SWFL Division One South
New Tinto Park
Sunday 24th June 2018

The 11am kick off was the main reason that this was the game of choice today, as it gave  Kaitlin and myself the rest of the day to watch the World Cup. The chance to see some of the up and coming players from two SWPL heavyweights was another positive, so it was another trip to Govan.

The Venue

Today’s weather was a whole lot more pleasant than Wednesday night, and it showed in the crowd for this third tier game between two reserve sides being larger than the Premier League game just four nights ago. The crowd was actually boosted somewhat in the second half as well with the arrival of Rangers’ first team and the Hamilton Accies team ahead of their 2pm SWPL1 game. New Tinto is a fantastic place to watch a game in the sunshine.

The Teams

Development sides, unlike in the men’s game is Scotland are part of the pyramid in the women’s game, with the caveat that the development side must play in the level below the first team (the two tier SWPL being counted as one level). This means in practice that SWFL Division One is as high as a development side can play. There is also a stipulation that development sides must only feature players up to the age of 23. Development sides play in their respective league cups, but are not eligible to play in the Scottish Cup.

Rangers Development have started the season reasonably well, sitting fifth in the Division One South table with ten games played. The side fell at the second round stage of the SWFL Division One Cup to Thistle Weir. Several Development squad players have featured as substitutes for the first team in the SWPL1 this season.

Hibs 23s are in a straight fight with Celtic Academy for the league title as we approach the halfway stage of the season, with Hibs leading the way on goal difference going into today’s matches. Hibs 23s did reach the SWFL Division One Cup Final this season, where they were beaten 1-0 by Celtic Academy. The side is the pinnacle of the Hibs Girls’ Academy, one of the most successful girls’ youth setups in the country.

The Game

It was a lively opening to the game, with both sides having chances in the opening few minutes. With just five minutes on the clock, Rangers had the first real chance of the game when Harty broke free down the right hand side but could only skew her eventual effort wide. Three minutes later, Hibs broke up the field through Turner, whose cross was only inches away from being met by Cari Johnston. The ball eventually broke to Aisha Maughan at the back post, and her effort was cleared off the line by MacDonald.

On fifteen minutes, Rangers broke again down the right hand side through Slaughter, who cut inside and chipped a shot only just over the bar. Three minutes later, Johnston had another chance for Hibs when a long ball from the midfield found her in space. She worked her way into the box before forcing a good save from Rae in the Rangers goal. The home side broke straight back up the field and Bates latched onto a breaking ball but was thwarted by a combination of goalkeeper Yates and defender Robyn McCafferty.

Just before the half hour, Harty found herself with the ball just outside the Hibs box and curled a shot towards goal. Yates saved well, as the game continued to swing from end to end. Hibs started to take a bit of control in the game and with 38 minutes gone, Hunter forced an excellent save from Rae who just about managed to push Hunter’s long range effort over the bar. Two minutes later, Hunter was involved again when she played in Maughan who made Rae work again to make a good low save.

As half time approached, Hibs continued to push, and a minute before the break Maughan’s cross was almost met by the sliding Johnston, before Morrison pounced on a poor clearance to unleash a quick shot that was pushed wide by Rae. From Hunter’s resulting corner, Hibs took the lead as McCafferty rose to power a header into the net just seconds before the half time whistle.

Conceding just before half time seemed to rock the Rangers youngsters, and they found themselves further behind just six minutes into the second half. Captain Leishman won the ball with some strong play near the byeline before cutting the ball back across the six yard line. Johnston slid in at the back post to knock the ball into the empty net to double the visitors’ lead. Five minutes later, Leishamn was nearly on the end of a cross from Maughan but couldn’t get enough on the ball to extend the lead.

It didn’t take long for Hibs to extend their lead though, as with 58 minutes gone substitute Jamie Lee Smith latched onto a through ball from Hunter before rounding Rae and slipping the ball home to make it 3-0.

Rangers were understandably deflated, but did manage to come close through Campbell on 66 minutes, but her shot couldn’t find the target. Hibs had another good attacking spell with around fifteen minutes to go, with chances falling for Smith and Maughan, but they couldn’t do enough to extend their lead.

Leishman and Rangers substitute Marriott both had late half chances, but the game finished 3-0 to the impressive visitors, who took charge late in the first half and never looked back. Hibs remain top of the Division One South table as we enter the summer break, but there were plenty of positives for Rangers to take going forward.

The Pies

The lounge at New Tinto was open today, selling hot and cold drinks, crisps and sweets. No pies, and I am yet to sample this ground’s fare despite being somewhat of a regular visitor. Maybe next time!

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Pie: None
Bovril: £1
Attendance: 56 (plus Rangers and Hamilton teams for much of the second half!)

Rangers v Spartans

Rangers Women 3-0 Spartans Women
SWPL1
New Tinto Park
Wednesday 20th June 2018

For various reasons it’s been a while since I’ve gotten myself to a game and I’ve been missing it. With a full SWPL card tonight, and New Tinto handily being about 50 yards off my usual route home from work, it was an easy decision to head along for some top flight action.

The Venue

I talked about New Tinto just a few weeks ago and don’t have much to add other than tonight being one of those times that I really wish they had put a roof over the seats!

The Teams

I’ll refer to the above link again and refrain from going into too much detail about Rangers. Since I last saw them they have played twice, with one win and one defeat. A fantastic 3-2 league win in the Women’s Old Firm match here at new Tinto was followed up after the international break with a disappointing Scottish Cup exit to Hamilton at the weekend. Rangers sit fifth in the SWPL1 table with 12 points from 11 games.

Spartans have been associated with the Lowland League side since 2008, having previously been known as Hailes United, Edinburgh Star, Tynecastle, Bonnyrigg Rose, Whitehill Welfare and Edinburgh Ladies. It was while under the Whitehill Welfare banner that they were first promoted to the SWPL in 2004. Since becoming part of the Spartans setup, the club have become one of the largest organisations for women’s and girls’ football in the country. The club’s development side currently sit top of SWFL Division Two East and reached the SWFL Division Two Cup final. The club won the SWPL Cup while known as Edinburgh Ladies in 2007, but have yet to win any silverware under the Spartans name.

It has been a difficult start to the 2018 season, and Spartans are currently bottom of the league table with just one win and two draws from their eleven games with their solitary win coming away to Forfar Farmington back in April. They exited the SWPL Cup with a 3-0 defeat to Glasgow City at the quarter final stage, but are still active in the Scottish Cup following a 5-1 victory away to Inverness last Sunday.

The Game

The game kicked off around five minutes later than the advertised 8pm kick off, but we didn’t have to wait long for the action to start. With just three minutes on the clock, Spartans failed to properly clear a Rangers corner and Caitlin O’Hara looped a shot from the edge of the box over the head of Rachel Harrison in the Spartans goal to give the home side an early lead. Spartans had a good chance to equalise five minutes later when Alana Marshall’s corner was flapped by Lauren McGregor in the Rangers goal, but the danger was scrambled clear.

With ten minutes gone, Rangers had a great chance to double their lead when Brogan Hay won the ball in the midfield and drove into the box. Harrison was equal to Hay though and got out well to make a good low save. Rangers were finding space on the wings and with eighteen minutes played, Claire Gemmell won a corner when her right wing cross was deflected onto the post. From the resulting corner, the ball broke to Hayley Sinclair, but she saw her shot saved again by Harrison.

Spartans started to recover from the early goal, and by the midway point of the first half were pressing and had Rangers on the back foot. Zoe Johnstone had a couple of long range efforts that were easily held by McGregor, and despite a really good spell of possession and pressure, the visitors just couldn’t find the final ball to test the Rangers defence. With 37 minutes gone, a tantalising cross from Nicola Mawson was as close as it got from Spartans, but no-one could get on the end of it, and the ball was eventually cleared by Lauren Gallon. Johnstone had another effort from distance soon after, but McGregor did well to hold on to it.

Spartans were made to rue their missed opportunities on forty minutes when a disastrous back pass was pounced on by Sarah Robertson who took full advantage of the mistake and slid the ball under Harrison to make it 2-0. Holly Napier could have added a third before the break, but her shot after some good work from Hay flew past the post. The half time whistle went with Spartans wondering how on earth they had managed to go into the break two goals down.

Spartans came out strong for the second half, and created a good chance after fifty minutes when Ronaigh Douglas held the ball up well just outside the box. Douglas shrugged off the challenge of Leah Eddie but couldn’t fire her shot on target. Three minutes later, Johnstone once again got herself in a good position after some strong play, but her shot was deflected harmlessly wide. And with an hour gone, it was Johnstone again with the chance. Rangers failed to properly clear the ball, but Johnstone’s shot hit Gallon and spun behind.

The chances kept coming for Spartans, and just a minute after Johnstone’s latest effort, substitute Louise Mason had an excellent chance from the edge of the box that was well smothered by McGregor. As Spartans pressed to get themselves back into the game, it gave Rangers space to get themselves upfield, and on 63 minutes, Hay, Carla Boyce and Hayley Sinclair all had a strike at the ball without ever really connecting. And from the corner that resulted from the stramash came one of the most glaring non-decisions I’ve ever seen. The ball clearly struck a Spartans arm in the box, but no penalty was given for reasons that only the referee will understand.

The game was wide open with chances coming at both ends. Sinclair shot just over for rangers, while a Johnstone strike for Spartans stung the palms of McGregor. With fifteen minutes remaining, Spartans were awarded a free kick on the angle of the box. Mason struck a superb shot under the wall that was well saved by McGregor at her near post. Two minutes later, the action was again at the other end as Boyce sent a cross right across the face of the goal that couldn’t quite be knocked in. The end to end action continued as the impressive Mason again caused the Rangers defence problems before curling a shot from the edge of the area inches wide.

The game was put beyond any lingering doubt with nine minutes to go when Rangers left back Amy Muir pounced on an errant Harrison throw out and drove to the edge of the box. Harrison got a hand on Muir’s shot but it had too much power and ended up nestled in the back of the net. Mason continued to push for Spartans and had a couple of late half chances, but despite being the better side for large chunks of the game, the visitors ended up well beaten.

The Pies

There were no pies tonight, but the Bovril on sale inside the clubhouse at half time was a bit of a life saver!

Admission: £5
Programme: None
Pie: None
Bovril: £1
Attendance: 41

Historical Grounds: Cathkin Park

Nestled just a few hundred yards away from Hampden, in Glasgow’s Crosshill district, sits what is now known as Cathkin Park Recreation Centre. On the surface, it looks like any other public park. A small pavilion, two sets of goalposts, and if you’re not careful, dog muck on your shoes. But for those looking a bit closer – or those who know the history – it’s clear that the site is something much more than that.

Cathkin Park was originally known as Hampden Park – the second ground to go by that name – and was home to Queen’s Park from 1884 to 1903, when they upped sticks and moved to the site of the current Hampden. It was renamed Cathkin Park, and Third Lanark, who would go on to win the Scottish Football League that season moved in. They would stay there until the dissolution in 1967, and the stadium had an official capacity of 50,000. The record attendance of 45,455 was set in 1954 at a Scottish Cup game against Rangers.

The old wooden grandstand is long gone, and trees have reclaimed most of the terracing, but walking round, you can still get a feeling for the scale of the place. Terracing crush barriers are still visible through the trees, and the steps, while overgrown are noticeable if you know that you’re looking for them. The park is still used by the Jimmy Johnstone Academy, and the amateur reincarnation of Third Lanark have used it in the past. There’s a charitable foundation who are invested in the redevelopment of the ground, and it will be interesting to see what happens in the future. For now though, Cathkin sits as an intriguing, semi-abandoned former fortress.

Scotland v Belarus

Scotland 2-1 Belarus
2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying – UEFA Group 2
Falkirk Stadium
Thursday 7th June 2018

It’s the penultimate home qualifier of the campaign for Scotland, and a change in venue having played the previous two games in Paisley. The trip to Falkirk after work isn’t a particularly arduous one, and with the promise of free ice cream at the pre match fanzone, it was off to the Falkirk Stadium once again for Kaitlin and myself.

The Venue

I have gone into my thoughts on this ground here and here, and therefore don’t really have a whole lot more to say about it. I will say that there was a really good atmosphere built up in the Main Stand tonight, despite the official attendance suggesting that it was only around half full.

The Teams

This is the first game Scotland have played since I last saw them take on Poland back in April. Going into the game, Scotland sit second in Group 2, with 9 points from four games. Lana Clelland of UPC Tavagnacco and Lizzie Arnot of Hibs have been welcomed back to the squad following long term injuries.

Belarus go into the game bottom of the table, with just three points from five games, their only win coming in their home game against Albania. The reverse fixture saw Scotland pick up a 2-1 win in Minsk back in October. Belarus’ starting line up had an impressive four players named Anastasia.

The Game

Oh boy, this was a frustrating one. Despite absolutely dominating possession and having effort after effort on goal, Scotland just could not find a way through.

With just two minutes gone it was almost the perfect start as Kim Little flashed a low cross across the face of the goal which somehow managed to evade everyone. Three minutes later, Claire Emslie sent a cross in after a marauding run down the left which Belarus goalkeeper Natalia Voskobovich punched clear inches from the head of Jane Ross. Just a minute later, Ross had another chance when she shot on the turn on the edge of the box, but Voskobovich got down well to save.

It was wave after wave of chances for Scotland and with 13 minutes gone, Little headed just wide from a great cross from Emma Mitchell. Three minutes later, Caroline Weir pounced on the ball after some slack Belarus defending but her 30 yard strike went just over the bar. With 19 minutes played, Weir and Lisa Evans linked up well on the right hand side before working the ball to Erin Cuthbert in the box. Cuthbert’s shot was saved well by Voskobovich and rebounded to Little, who saw her effort agonisingly cleared off the line by Anastasia Shcherbachenia. The chances kept coming for Scotland and with 23 minutes gone Mitchell’s cross was missed by the onrushing Ross, and bounced harmlessly wide off the knee of Cuthbert. The 2,000 in attendance could not believe how the home side weren’t ahead.

With 26 minutes played, the stadium was stunned into silence when Jen Beattie’s pass was misplaced to Karina Olkhovik, who struck a looping shot over the head of Lee Alexander from 30 yards off the underside of the bar and into the net. It was a fantastic strike from the 17 year old for her first international goal, but it was completely against the run of play, with the position of the shot just about as close as the visitors had got to Scotland’s goal for the entire game.

Scotland thought they had hit back almost immediately, but Ross was judged to be offside from Cuthbert’s cross and saw her effort disallowed. With 32 minutes played, it looked like it was going to be one of those nights, when Ross struck the post from the corner of the box, and Evans somehow saw her follow up come off the bar. Scotland continued to press for an equaliser, but Belarus’ defence was proving resolute and Voskobovich was commanding her area well.

Emslie was switched from the left win to the right and immediately began causing issues for Belarus, with a 42nd minute shot from just inside the box being saved by Voskobovich. A minute later, she rattled a 20 yard effort off the bar with Voskobovich well beaten. It was unfortunately the last significant contribution for Emslie though, as she was replaced by Fiona Brown at half time after picking up a heavy knock. As stoppage time began it looked like Scotland were somehow going to go into the break behind, but a moment of magic from Cuthbert brought the sides level. She picked the ball up on the right wing, cut inside and headed for the byeline. It looked like she had taken the ball too far, but squeezed the ball past Voskobovich from what looked like an impossible angle to make it 1-1 at halftime.

The second half started very much in the same vein as the first had ended, with Scotland peppering the Belarus goal, but not being able to find a way in. On 48 minutes, Rachel Corsie’s header from Little’s cross was deflected wide, and two minutes later Brown just couldn’t get enough contact on Kirsty Smith’s cross to trouble Voskobovich. Another two minutes later, Ross found herself in a good position before playing Weir in inside the box. Weir cut the ball back to Little, but her shot was squiffed harmlessly wide. And on 54 minutes, a good old fashioned goalmouth scramble saw some incredible last ditch defending from Belarus, and against all odds the ball was cleared to safety.

With 64 minutes played, Scotland finally made another breakthrough. Brown picked the ball up on the left wing and ran directly at the defence before cutting inside. She cut the ball back to Cuthbert who slid the ball under Voskobovich to make it 2-1. It was becoming the Cuthbert show, and just two minutes after taking the lead, she broke on the left but couldn’t find a team mate with her cutback.

Belarus had a second chance through Olkhovik when she latched onto a long ball and found herself bearing down on goal. Lee Alexander rushed out of her box and dealt well with the danger. Scotland once again pushed forward, but with much less urgency, and the game slowed down considerably.

Scotland’s tempo dropped, and Belarus couldn’t get hold of the ball to cause any problems. Scotland didn’t really create much going forward either, but Cuthbert continued to look dangerous, and Beattie saw a late header cleared off the line. It was a solid, but frustrating 3 points for Scotland, who go to Poland on Tuesday, hoping to keep the pressure on Switzerland at the top of the group.

The Pies

First off, I need to mention the free ice cream. There was a guy handing out vouchers outside the stadium for a free whippy cone from Fotheringham’s van. The one guy pulling the cones was an absolute hero, with an incredible amount of speed. I an only imagine his invoice to the SFA will have made him a pretty penny, which will be fully deserved. It was an excellent incentive to come and get involved in the game early. The fan zone concept (which also had bouncy castles and trampolines for kids, face painting and injured Hibs captain Joelle Murray signing autographs) is a great way to engage with supporters (especially the younger ones) and get them excited for the game.

I’ve spoken about Falkirk’s pies before, and the steak pie and macaroni pies we had tonight were great as usual. We branched out and tried their cheeseburgers tonight as well. For a cheeseburger at a football stadium, it’s pretty excellent. I also have to commend Falkirk for keeping their prices so reasonable, for which are very high standard concessions.

Admission: £5
Programme: Free (many of them coming with a free signed photo of Joelle Murray)
Pie: £1.90 – £2.50 (Cheeseburger £2.70)
Bovril: £1.60
Attendance: 2,007

Gartocharn v Buchlyvie United

Gartocharn 1-0 Buchlyvie United
MacGregor Ferguson Cup Semi Final
Shandon Park
Friday 1st June 2018

The Forth and Endrick FA run several cups as well as their league competition, and the MacGregor Ferguson Cup is traditionally the first silverware of the season and reaches the semi final stage this weekend.

The Venue

With Gartocharn’s home pitch still unplayable, they have been playing home games at their neighbours Drymen’s Shandon Park. You can read all about this excellent little ground here from when I visited on the first day of the Forth and Endrick season.

The Teams

As previously mentioned, Gartocharn were formed in 1957 and have played in the Forth and Endrick League since their inception. They have had a good start to the season, and were sitting second in the league table last weekend. They have had a couple of poor results over their last two games, but I haven’t seen an up to date league table. They reached the semi-final here with a 5-2 win over Gargunnock.

Buchlyvie United were founder members of the Forth and Endrick FA back in 1910. As of last week, they were eighth of ten in the league with just five points from six games. Again, I’m not actually sure how their last couple of games have gone. They reached tonight’s semi-final when Deanston scratched from their first round game.

The Game

Garto had the first chance of the game after four minutes, but were forced wide by the Buchlyvie keeper. With ten minutes gone, the referee displayed a ridiculous sense of self importance as he began bellowing at Garto’s young forward for dissent that was much worse in his head than in real life.

Garto continued to attack, but couldn’t get past the Buchlyvie keeper who made a couple of decent saves in the opening twenty minutes or so. With 21 minutes gone, it looked like Buchlyvie had taken the lead, but Garto’s left back somehow managed to clear what looked like a certain goal off the line after an absolutely sensational cross from the left wing. Five minutes later, Garto’s right back had a 25 yard free kick well saved.

The rest of the first half was a scrappy affair with neither side really able to get a proper grip on the game. There were half chances for both teams, but neither goalkeeper was really tested before the half time whistle blew.

About ten minutes into the second half, both sides had chances, but Garto saw an effort fly over the bar, while Buchlyvie’s effort was well blocked by the Garto defence. With just over an hour to go, the home side did break the deadlock. John Campbell was strong on the left hand side and swung a low cross into the box. The cross was flapped at by the Buchlyvie keeper and fell at the feet of Gregor Mitchell who slid in to slot the ball into the net.

Four minutes later, Mitchell almost turned provider when he managed to round the Buchlyvie keeper and cut the ball back, but the Buchlyvie defence dealt with the chance and scrambled it clear for a corner. The visitors started to push for an equaliser, but despite dominating the midfield after going behind, could not find the all important final ball.

The referee made himself centre of attention again with ten minutes to go, when he decided to scream (and spit in the face of, going by what I could hear of the exchange) at Garto captain Graeme McKenzie for seemingly nothing, instead of dealing with the injured Buchlyvie keeper, who had been left hurt on the ground after a heavy challenge. After a delay, the game continued with McKenzie in the book, the keeper able to continue, and the referee looking like an absolute balloon.

There was still time for more drama, when Garto’s left back rattled a 40 yard free kick off the bar with five minutes to go, before forcing a good save with a shot from the resulting corner. Buchlyvie continued to push forward, but could only come as close as hitting the side net in stoppage time, and it was Garto who progressed to the final to play Blanefield Thistle, who defeated Thornhill 2-0 in tonight’s other semi-final.

The Pies

As last time, no catering on the go tonight.

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Pie: None
Bovril: None
Attendance: 26 (+1 dog)