Accies girls storm back to defeat Boroughmuir

Oct 8 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON’S ladies grabbed a good away win at Boroughmuir Thistle, a team who beat them home and away last season.

Accies twice came back from behind in the first half, but could be considered fortunate to have gone in level at half-time.

The visiting defence was put under pressure right from kick-off and Boroughmuir used the wind well, relying on a long-ball game.

They opened the scoring in 10 minutes when Accies’ defence was caught napping and they conceded a needless throw-in, which led to a Boroughmuir striker turning and blasting the ball into the top corner.

Accies levelled in 22 minutes when Lynsey Hogg sent a good free-kick into the box and Emma Lafferty nodded the ball down to Nicky Grant, who tucked the ball into the bottom right corner.

Boroughmuir regained the lead in 27 minutes with a 25-yard free-kick that sailed into the top corner past the helpless Elaine Fleming.

Five minutes before the interval, Accies drew level again when a good ball over the top allowed Sarah Crilly to beat the defence before finishing with a neat lob.

Hamilton reshuffled their pack at half-time, with Susan Fairlie and Ashley McDonald replacing Sam McManus and Jen Thomson, allowing the shape of the team to be changed.

This allowed Accies to combat Boroughmuir’s long-ball game and the visitors began to take control of the game.

Hamilton took the lead for the first time after 75 minutes when a nice interchange of passes between Fairlie and Crilly led to a penalty, with Hogg burying the spot-kick.

The points were wrapped up in 85 minutes when Fairlie nodded the ball into the path of sub Helen Templeton, who calmly rounded the goalkeeper and stroked the ball home.

Delighted manager Kevin Murphy said: “The girls deserve great credit for their second-half display. That is the way Alan Urquhart and I want the team to play – with pace, purpose and width.

“The team worked hard in training this week and showed good character to come back from the early reverse.

“We can hopefully use this as a springboard for the two very difficult matches coming up against Hibs and Celtic.”

The Hamilton team was: Fleming, Thomson, Hogg, Lafferty, King, Murray, Grant, Reilly, Inglis, McManus, Crilly. Subs: Templeton, Keys, Fairlie, McDonald.

Due to League Cup semi-finals there were no other games played this week, moving Hamilton up into fifth place.

l Hamilton’s Divisional team fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Queen’s Park Ladies.

Accies started well and were in control but Kim Murphy was sent off for violent conduct after 20 minutes and Queens eventually capitalised late in the second half.

Their next match is on Sunday at Elderslie Ladies.

l Hamilton’s Under-13 white progressed in the League Cup with a fine 5-2 win at Kilmarnock.

Gale-force winds made play difficult but the girls stuck to their task and managed to grab a good win.

They were 2-0 up at half-time thanks to a header from Karen Baillie and a great strike by Tammi Jeffrey, while a terrific save by Layleigh Lowell kept Kilmarnock out at the other end. In the second half, goals from Hannah O’Keane and Laura Gallen took the score to 4-0 before two quick goals pulled Killie back into it. However, Baillie wrapped up the win with a header from a corner late in the game.

l Hamilton’s Under-11 Team 2 ran out comfortable 9-2 winners away to Kilbirnie.

The girls played exceptionally well but were only 3-2 ahead at half-time before stepping up a gear in the second period.

Samantha McMillan grabbed a hat-trick, which was added to by doubles from Olivia Quinn, Carys Archibald and Abbie Miller.

The Hamilton team was: McSherry, Shearer, Frazer, McLaren, Conner, Archibald, Quinn, Miller, McMillan, Crossan, Molley.

Player of the Day: Dacy Molley.

Next week both Under-11 sides are away to Kilwinning for the October Festival, where they will each play six games.