Girl's U15s: Hamilton Ladies 8-1 Dunfermline
Match report by Colette Carr: On the back of a bounce match against Hamilton under 17 girls last week, Hamilton under 15's were keen to throw themselves into their first pre-season friendly against Dunfermline Athletic. After winning the League last season, they were looking for a good performance to begin the countdown to the defence of their title.
The home side experimented with a new back four, and gave four goalkeepers a spell in goals. The girls, who normally play on grass, took to the 3G pitch in blustering conditions at the Jock Stein Sports Centre.
Dunfermline went into the match all guns blazing, and quickly took control of the match, pressing forward and creating many chances, capitalising on Accies’ shaky start. After only five minutes, Dunfermline had their best chance, with a low strike inching just past the post.
Dunfermline went into the match all guns blazing, and quickly took control of the match, pressing forward and creating many chances, capitalising on Accies’ shaky start. After only five minutes, Dunfermline had their best chance, with a low strike inching just past the post.
With the troublesome wind, Dunfermline found the weather to be working to their advantage, with the ball holding up for them well, while Hamilton found the ball running away from them. Hamilton’s need to release the ball quicker became apparent after repeatedly getting caught in possession, and with calls from the coaches to do so, the hosts began to come more into the game.
After a very one-sided first twenty, Hamilton began to find shape in their 4-5-1 formation. Having long spells in the Dunfermline half. Accies’ number eight Clare Campbell found herself with a few chances, before Hamilton’s first strike on target edged just by the left post.
The deadlock was finally broken after 25 minutes when Hamilton dispossessed their opponents at the half way line, pressing forward until Helana Montague clinically slotted it past the keeper. Two minutes later, another strike for Montague found the net, asserting Hamilton’s new-found domination of the game.
The deadlock was finally broken after 25 minutes when Hamilton dispossessed their opponents at the half way line, pressing forward until Helana Montague clinically slotted it past the keeper. Two minutes later, another strike for Montague found the net, asserting Hamilton’s new-found domination of the game.
With attempts on goal for Hamilton coming thick and fast, their third came with five minutes to go, courtesy of Kathleen Toolan.
Just before the break, Hamilton found the time to stretch their advantage to four, when Sam MacMillan picked up the ball just inside the half before driving forward to chip the ball through the keeper’s hands.
At halftime, Hamilton Manager Wullie Brown admitted that they “started very shaky”.
At halftime, Hamilton Manager Wullie Brown admitted that they “started very shaky”.
He said: “We’re experimenting with our defence; we don’t have a solid back four decided yet. We rode our luck a bit, but after the first twenty minutes, we started to find a shape in our midfield and took our chances.
"They were a bit on top of us at the start, but we’re on top at halftime so you’ve got to be happy at that.”
With the game taking such a big change in direction, the hosts had managed to rack up goals to go into the second half with the advantage. After beginning to play the passing game, looking for feet, and keeping controlled and organised play, the team gained more confidence and should have went into the break with more goals scored. At the restart, Hamilton planned to change to a 4-4-2 formation with Sam MacMillan and Ashley Love up front, and moving striker Rhiannan Brown into goals.
Dunfermline began the second half intending to make their mark and pull themselves back into the match, however, Accies carried forward their great footballing from the first half, playing well as a unit.
Dunfermline began the second half intending to make their mark and pull themselves back into the match, however, Accies carried forward their great footballing from the first half, playing well as a unit.
The attacking ethic also translated to the second half, with great link up play between Laura Gallon and Sam MacMillan, unlucky not to score out of it. Shortly, their efforts were rewarded as MacMillan retrieved the ball, took a touch, turned and took a sound strike from 18 yards to change the score line to 5-0.
With the quality of football constantly improving for Accies, sweeper Clare Campbell read the game very well, and controlled the defence against a Dunfermline side which were beginning to get back into the game.
The sixth goal of the game came from left footed Darcy Molley. Her great individual effort saw her find a through ball in the box, and after her first attempt was blocked by the keeper, Darcy recovered quickly collecting the ball and skipping past the keeper to tap the ball in the back of the net.
Dunfermline finally found the net after breaking through the Hamilton defence and chipping it over the keeper.
Ten minutes before time though, Accies found another goal with a great curling strike from Rhiannan Brown who had come out of goals to make way for another goalie. With both teams pressurising, Hamilton were still hungry for goals despite their comfortable position. And this hunger resulted in another goal for the hosts. A bullet struck by Rhiannan Brown burst the net just before time.
After an inspiring turn around in gameplay to win by such a wide margin, Hamilton will hoping to build on this, while Dunfermline will probably be looking to improve their defence first and foremost.
After an inspiring turn around in gameplay to win by such a wide margin, Hamilton will hoping to build on this, while Dunfermline will probably be looking to improve their defence first and foremost.
Afterwards, Hamilton coach Chris Madden was pleased with his side's start to pre-season.
He said: “You could see at the start a lack of match fitness and pace, Dunfermline were clearly on top, but once we got that first goal, we broke out of that.
"They first twenty minutes we didn’t really have a shape, but, that first goal did change the game.
"Obviously aswell the conditions were poor, which meant we couldn’t play high balls, head the ball a lot, so just tried to get the girls to make sure they released the ball quickly, take three/four touches max and get the ball to work for them.
"We tried some different positions today, the different keepers, and a new back four, but in the end it was a great result.”
While it is only the beginning of the pre-season, both teams have enough time to iron out any problems and find a good, strong solid outing to field week in, week out for the start of the season.
Hamilton Academical Team sheet: Colette D’Ambrosio, Kathleen Toolan, Darcy Molley, Megan Ramsey, Sophie Mason, Helana Montague, Clare Campbell, Samantha MacMillan, Caitlin Kelly, Ciara McLean, Alana McBrearty, Rhiannan Brown, Laura Gallon, Olivia McMahon, Ashley Love.
Hamilton Academical Team sheet: Colette D’Ambrosio, Kathleen Toolan, Darcy Molley, Megan Ramsey, Sophie Mason, Helana Montague, Clare Campbell, Samantha MacMillan, Caitlin Kelly, Ciara McLean, Alana McBrearty, Rhiannan Brown, Laura Gallon, Olivia McMahon, Ashley Love.
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