Accies Ladies resume their SWPL campaign with a win over Boroughmuir

Aug 5 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON on Sunday kicked-off the second half of the new summer season and continued where they had left off.

The 2-1 Scottish Women’s Premier League win over Boroughmuir puts Accies in fifth spot, 12 points behind leaders Glasgow City but with a game in hand.

Manager Kevin Murphy said: “It was pleasing to restart the season with a victory.

“I don’t think we were anywhere near our best and credit to Boroughmuir, who made it really difficult for us.

“We battled and worked hard throughout the match but will need to show more quality.”

Hamilton started with their preferred 4-5-1 formation but the match got off to a slow start with both teams trying to feel their way back into competitive action following the six-week break.

Accies took 13 minutes to exert any pressure on Boroughmuir’s defence, but it resulted in the opening goal.

A long ball out of defence caught the visiting defence napping and striker Susan Fairlie darted into the box only to be brought down, with the referee immediately pointing to the spot.

Captain Lynsey Hogg stepped up and made no mistake from the spot.

In 25 minutes a great ball in behind the defence from Nicky Grant released Fairlie, but her shot was well saved.

From the clearance Boroughmuir raced upfield and a clumsy challenge inside the box allowed them to level from a penalty.

This setback appeared to knock Hamilton’s confidence and the remainder of the half was something of a non-event.

Both teams made a sluggish start to the second half, with neither able to exert any influence on the game.

A Helen Templeton shot was all that Hamilton had to show in the early stages, until a Boroughmuir mistake allowed Accies to take the lead.

Hogg’s long ball out of defence was headed back to the goalkeeper by Boroughmuir’s centre-half, but the keeper had advanced to take control of the bouncing ball, allowing Grant to nip in and roll the ball into the empty net.

A mistake in Hamilton’s defence presented Boroughmuir with a chance to level with five minutes remaining, but goalkeeper Lee Alexander produced a fine save to secure the win.

HAMILTON: Alexander, King, Lafferty, Hogg, Emerson, Crilly, Mason, Grant, Templeton, McDonald, Fairlie. Subs: McManus, Fleming, Reilly, Inglis, Anderson.