Women’s team continue build up to SWPL2 start

Queen’s Park kept their unbeaten pre-season run going on Sunday with an emphatic 11-0 win against Glasgow Women FC at Springburn Park.

The Spiders named a much-changed starting 11 following their 3-1 win against Birmingham City U21 earlier in the week. Ellie Kane started as a lone striker with new signing Sophie Rutherford making her debut on the left wing, a trialist on the right wing, and Ciara Bonner being named as captain.

Queen’s got off to a dream start. After just 2 minutes, Rutherford received a through-ball from Morgan Hay and with her second touch, floated a cross to the right-winger who powered a header home at the far post.

Two minutes later, Queen’s doubled their lead. Ellie Kane received the ball just outside the box from Emma Craig, turned her defender, and, despite being under pressure from two Glasgow defenders, calmly curled the ball around the keeper.

In the 6th minute, Rutherford got her first goal for the club. Cutting in from the left wing, Sophie played a one-two with Craig and stuck the ball into the far bottom corner from a tight angle.

In the 8th minute, Glasgow had their first serious chance of the match. The home side won a free-kick just outside the box, but the shot was excellently saved by the trialist goalkeeper.

In the 12th minute, Ellie Kane scored her second. A great bit of build-up play saw Rosie McQuillan put the ball through to Kane. The keeper came out to put pressure on her, but Kane calmly chipped the ball into the far corner.

There are very few things better than scoring on your debut; scoring a second is one of those things. In the 14th minute, Rutherford received a through-ball from Bonner and chipped the ball over the keeper into the far corner.

In the 25th minute, Rosie McQuillan got her goal. Having seen her initial effort saved, Rosie showed her physicality to win the ball back off the keeper before holding off two defenders and finishing into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later, Rosie grabbed her 2nd. McQuillan received a cut-back from Rutherford, took a touch to steady herself, and finished from close range to put Queen’s 7-0 ahead at the break.

HT: Glasgow Women 0 Queen’s Park 7

Abby Callaghan entered the pitch for the second half, and just five minutes in, she found the back of the net. A cutback from Rutherford found Abby at the near post, who slotted the ball past the keeper.
In the 63rd minute, Ellie completed her hat-trick. Abby Callaghan broke into the box and selflessly passed the ball to Kane, who finished into the open net. Her first hat-trick since returning to the club.

One minute later, Glasgow Women broke through the Queen’s defence and created a two-on-one opportunity against the keeper, but an excellent save kept the clean sheet intact.

In the 67th minute, Queen’s scored their 10th. A storming run from the right-winger saw her beat her marker and the keeper before sending in a low cross to Rutherford at the back post who finished into the open net for her debut hat-trick.

In the 82nd minute, Rachel Wright added The Spiders’ 11th of the afternoon. A threatening cross from the right-winger wasn’t dealt with by the Glasgow defence and Rachel was on hand to stab the ball home from close range.

FT: Glasgow Women 0 Queen’s Park 11

After the match, Head coach, Iain Robinson, spoke highly of the performances of the team and gave credit to both wingers who had a combined seven goals and assists. “I thought they were both excellent”, Iain said.

“A high number of goal involvements from both of them. Whether that’s scoring or assisting, it is what we’re looking for from our wide players, and you can see how comfortable they were one v one today, which is always what we’re looking for.”

Next up for Queen’s Park is a home match against Montrose in what will be their final pre-season match before the league starts on the 17th of August.