Two thrilling wins for isles’ ladies footballers
The Shetland ladies football team travelled away last weekend to play two games in Aberdeen. On Saturday afternoon they played Aberdeen University who, at present, are in fourth place in the North Second Division of Scotland.
Aberdeen University 3, Shetland 4
The match kicked off in a snow storm, but Shetland, playing in a 3-4-3 formation, attacked well from the off and won a corner at 18 minutes. A through ball from Lynda Flaws found Karen MacKelvie who slid the ball in – Shetland 1, Aberdeen 0.
Good work by Sarah Grogan and Kirsten Robertson saw Jessica Bradley’s attempt at the goal saved by the keeper.
At 28 minutes Shetland’s goalie made a smart save, but the back three were under quite a bit of pressure and a good tackle from Zoe Irvine prevented another goal chance from the home team.
Ten minutes from half time a shot at the Shetland goal slipped through Sarah’s fingers and equalled the score. However, three minutes later a pass from Amber Johnson to Jessica Bradley found Toni Sedgwick whose flick at the goal brought the score line back into Shetland’s favour 2-1. Another chance saw Megan Burns shoot just wide of the goal.
On 49 minutes Jessica Bradley chased a long ball and in a brave challenge managed to hit another goal home for Shetland.
The action was end to end with both keepers making fine saves. At 58 minutes the Aberdeen team fired in another goal and brought the score to Shetland 3, Aberdeen 2.
Emma Gray and Sarah Grogan were having a battle in the midfield with their opposing players but held their own. At 78 minutes Aberdeen evened the score 3-3.
Shetland piled the on the pressure; a corner from Lynda Flaws, five minutes before the full time whistle, found Jessica who flicked the ball to Karen, who volleyed the ball home. Sarah Couper performed a diving save in the dying seconds ensuring a Shetland win.
Dons Ladies 0, Shetland 2
The second game of the weekend was against Dons Ladies, currently second in the league. Shetland started with a 4-4-2 formation against their tough opposition.
The first real attack came four minutes in; Lynda Flaws’ ball found Karen MacKelvie, who in turn passed to Emma Gray. Emma passed to Jessica Bradley who fired the ball into the bottom corner.
The Shetland team built up good attacks with Zoe Irvine, Emma Gray and Lynda working well down the left flank to Amber Johnson whose shot went just wide of the goal. Kirsten, Sarah and Jessica opened up a chance for Lynda but her shot was saved. At the other end of the pitch Dons Ladies forced two corners, both of which were cleared. At 18 minutes Shetland were awarded a corner and Lynda swung the ball in; Emma headed it home.
Sarah Grogan was captaining her team well but on 39 minutes she went in for a header only to be caught late and received a bad head knock. She was taken off. Minutes later Debbie Sneddon injured her back; substitutes Megan Burns and Stacey Laurenson came on.
After a few adjustments the second half started with Dons Ladies pressing hard with a terrific shot rattling the Shetland bar. A long ball from defence saw Jessica Bradley go one-on-one with the keeper, but the keeper saved well.
The Shetland team were working hard, chasing, tackling and blocking; at 75 minutes Sarah Couper saved another rasping drive from the Aberdeen team.
Subs Megan and Stacey played a pass to Amber Johnson but her shot at the goal went wide of the mark.
At 88 minutes an indirect free kick was awarded inside the Shetland box; the wall was set up and the kick was taken, but Sarah Couper managed to save it brilliantly.
Coach Derrick Bradley commented that the weekend was a great success: “The teams’ togetherness was outstanding and some of the best performances I’ve seen from the any Shetland team I’ve been involved with.”
Derrick and the Shetland Team wish to thank NorthLink, Bolts Car Hire, and Maggie and Karen for organising the trip.
