SWPL: Glasgow City 6 Hamilton Accies 0

Mar 17 2009 By Ben Bookless

Ruesha Littlejohn

RUESHA LITTLEJOHN grabbed a hat trick as Glagsow City picked up three more points in their bid for the SWPL title with a resounding 6-0 win over Hamilton at Glasgow Green.

To add to Hamilton’s woes Clare Docherty was carried off towards the end of the match after twisting her right leg in the turf, and was in so much discomfort that an ambulance was called. It was a horrible sight and marred an entertaining, clean game of football.

With conditionscold and blustery, the home side started the stronger and could have gone ahead within the first minute.
Jane Ross was clean through on goal but Hamilton ‘keeper Fleming came out to smother the ball.

Three minutes later, Jill Paterson sent in a promising cross for 'City. Fleming looked less than convincing as she flapped at the high ball and thankfully for her, looped out for a goal kick.

In the ninth minute, Littlejohn hit a good shot at the Hamilton goalkeeper, but it was straight down her throat and made the save look easy.

It seemed that it was just a matter of time before the hosts would make the breakthrough, with Lappin linking up well with her team-mates.

They had a guilt-edged chance to take the lead 20 minutes into the game when Katharina Lindner’s cross was palmed away by Fleming and the ball fell eventually to Littlejohn who’s shot rebounded off the post.

Lappin was really beginning to pull the strings for Glasgow City and it was she who would give them the lead half an hour into the game.

Lindner’s crossing was to be the thorn in Accies side and her cross kindly broke to the number six who lifted a brilliant shot over the goalkeeper's head.

Lappin, in dominant mood, could have notched her second when her header was cleared off the line from a corner.

Lindner was playing extremely well too and should have made it 2-0 when she rounded Fleming but her shot was blocked on the line.

Just before the end of the half, Glasgow City put together a string of fine passes and as Lindner rushed into the box, she cut the ball back to Jane Ross but the ‘keeper instinctively blocked the shot with her right boot.

Hamilton would have been the happier side going into the second half, having only conceded one goal in the first 45.

But their joy was short-lived when Littlejohn headed into the net after Lappin’s attempt rattled off the crossbar. 'City deserved their second goal but the marking in the box from Hamilton was woeful.

The home side continued to turn the screw but the third goal wasn’t to come until the 65th minute.

Jill Paterson’s free kick from the half way line found its way to Ross at the back post, whose shot crept under the number one.

Glasgow City’s fourth came just two minutes later when Leanne Ross hit a shot from just outside the box into the top left hand corner of Hamilton’s goal.

Hamilton’s first real clear-cut chance of the game came in the 70th minute but it was put wide.

The home side weren’t completely finished with their opponents when a cut back was duly put into the net by Littlejohn.

Accies were simply playing for pride at this point and their afternoon got worse when Docherty crumpled to the floor after getting her studs caught on the turf. It was a sore one for the 17-year-old and she had to be taken away by medics with suspected ankle ligament damage.

The rout was complete when Rachel Corsie went on a mazy run, combined with Lappin who set up Littlejohn to score a hat-trick. So it was three goals for Littlejohn and six for ‘City.

Glasgow City manager Peter Caulfield was satisfied with his side’s performance. He said: "I was very happy with the way we played but were disappointed that we didn’t take more of the opportunities we made.

"I think I counted about 30 chances and only scored six goals, what with hitting the post twice.”