Women's football: Hamilton U15's 1-1 Glasgow City

Under 15 Hamilton Accies Girls played host to a Glasgow City side in the second friendly of their preseason, following an 8-1 victory over Dunfermline Athletic two weekends ago.   

Hamilton started well, pressing forward straight away, and after a few minutes the home side began to force saves from the keeper repeatedly.   They found themselves having most of the possession and keeping the ball in the City half, despite their opposition’s efforts.  After 15 minutes, the scoring was opened, with Helana Montague collecting the ball, before turning, taking it a few yards, and placing a 25 yard rocket in the back of City’s net.  Accies continued to try to add to the score line, however, having said this, the visitors began to come more into the game, catching some of the Hamilton girls off guard.  Reacting well to this was sweeper Clare Campbell, who proved to be strong, with no fear in shutting down City’s advances.  Shortly after, half time came.

At the break, Coach William Brown, said, “I think a big factor is our positions have been switched about, a lot of girls are out of position because we only have eleven in our squad, which is a hindrance.  We started well, we were OK, but I’m surprised by the opposition, I think I underestimated them, but they’ve definitely came more into it, and if they got a goal it’s anyone’s game.  We’re doing well, but we could do much better, we’re struggling along at third gear, but we could move up to fourth or fifth.”
With only a goal separating the two at half time, it could go any way in the second 35.  With City bringing themselves more into it, by playing the passing game from the back, Hamilton need to find their midfield more, and use it to start dictating the match again.

The second half began with possession being fairly even, with both sides finding themselves in each other’s halves.  City’s keeper held her goal well, as Hamilton took more chances on goal to make their lead more comfortable.   On fifty five minutes, a through ball from striker Sam McMillan met Ashley Love. Love drove the ball deep into the box, and despite calls for offside, took her shot, putting it just past the post.  Hamilton’s quality of football appeared to be declining steadily, despite their opportunities on goal.  Both sides were struggling to find the net, becoming more frantic and frustrated, again taking from the quality of the football.  In her spell in goals, Megan Ramsey proved herself to be Accies’ saviour, blocking great attempts from the visitors, and saving her teammates from going down against an improved city side.  Seconds before the whistle, Glasgow City equalised, and Hamilton’s second friendly had ended on a sour note.

The result was fair, Hamilton had gotten what they’d deserved, and Glasgow had put in a spirited fight, deserving their goal at the least.  Coach Chris Madden commented on the result at fulltime.  “We’re disappointed, we can do so much better.  I don’t think we were in the right frame of mind, and with the circumstances of the squad and positions, that had its effect.  We just have to build on it at training on Tuesday and move on.”