Aberdeen travelled to a bright but blustery Lawsondale playing fields on Saturday morning to contest the NRGFL 16s League Cup Semi-Final, game official was Brian Anderson.
The early stage of the game saw Westdyke press and harry Aberdeen who took some time to get into a rhythm. Westdyke striker Julie Binnie split the Aberdeen defence with a pass to Piper Kerr who’s spin and first time shot had keeper Keren Lumsden stretching to turn round the post for a corner to the home side.
Aberdeen countered with a good period of pressure that had the Westdyke bar rattling and a combination of fine goal keeping by Westdyke keeper Anna Blanchard and slack finishing by Aberdeen kept the score at 0-0.
Westdkye had a couple of chances when Caitlin Harries saw her long range effort saved by Lumsden and when a superb freekick from Julie Binnie beat the outstretched Lumsden only to see it hit the bar and go out for a goal kick.
Although Westdyke continued to close down Aberdeen the away team stuck to their game plan and continued to play the ball on the ground, their patience was rewarded with a moment of skill from Bailley Collins who beat the Westdyke defence and coolly lobbed Blanchard from 25 yards.
HT 0 – 1
Innes and Greig came on as substitutes for Aberdeen who also moved the industrious Emma Rogers back to defence to partner captain Lauren Masson. Aberdeen played with greater conviction and a higher tempo to their passing in the second half which paid off with a 10 minute spell that put a huge dent in Westdyke’s cup aspirations.
Ellen Reid latching on to a through pass from Eilidh Shore and dispatching it from the edge of the box into the top right corner of the Westdyke goal.
A third and fourth soon followed, this time with Reid splitting the Westdyke defence for Sophie Jamieson to finish from close range and Sophie Taylor racing down the right wing and crossing for Reid to slide home.
Reid struck again from long range only to see her shot rebound off of the Westdyke crossbar and out to the edge of the box, Jamieson was first to react as she spun around and lashed the ball into the net for a 0 – 5 lead.
With the game effectively over Aberdeen put on their remaining substitutions and were content to hold on to the ball in the midfield area for the last quarter of the game. To Westdyke Thistle’s credit their girls never gave up with Binnie and Walker both testing Kirsten Pratt Aberdeen’s substitute keeper.
When the final whistle came Aberdeen proceeded to the NRGFL U16s Cup Final with a 0 – 5 result where they will play the victors of the other semi-final Deveronvale Girls 16s who beat Westdyke 16s, 5 – 3 AET.
Westdyke Thistle – Anna Blanchard, Abbie Reid, Amy Christie, Tara Dow, Caitlin Harries, Catrina Anderson, Lynsey Walker, Piper Kerr, Martha Davison, Daisy Cooper, Kirsty Anderson, Jess Davidson, Julie Binnie.
Aberdeen FC Ladies – Keren Lumsden, Sophie Taylor, Mairi Whittingham, Lauren Masson, Ellie Shand, Emma Rogers, Eilidh Shore, Iona McLeod, Bailley Collins, Sophie Jamieson, Ellen Reid Subs Kirsten Pratt, Hannah Innes, Kelsie Greig, Louise Proctor, Emily Neish, Emily Taylor
