Motherwell vs Glasgow City - Match Report: Motherwell Suffer Five-Goal Demolition
Motherwell showed fighting spirit but would ultimately be outfought by the quality and character at the disposal of the defending Champions in a tough encounter at Alliance Park.
Priscilla Chinchilla fired the visitors in front early into the second half, before Ode Fulutudilu netted a spectacular second minutes later.
Fulutudilu added a third on the hour mark, before Aoife Colville netted Glasgow’s fourth with a well-placed header. Jenna Clark sealed victory for Glasgow City with a fifth, before Katie Rice added a late consolation for the hosts.
Despite a recent string of positive results, including a 3-0 thrashing of local rivals Hamilton, manager Paul Brownlie will be left to pick up the pieces after his side suffered yet another heavy defeat to Glasgow City this season.
The ‘Women of steel’ started on the front foot with the Lanarkshire side showing real intensity in the early stages.
Clever link-up play between Amy Anderson and Carla Boyce allowed Motherwell to break quickly, and Boyce’s incisive through ball left London Pollard racing Glasgow City goalkeeper Lee Alexander to the ball, but the experienced stopper reacted quickly to clear her lines.
Khym Ramsay would be called into action in the Motherwell goal minutes later. Julia Molin’s floated delivery found Fulutudilu with her back to goal, but Ramsay was alert to quickly close down the angle and produce a smart save.
The visitors came close to the opener on the half-hour mark following an exquisite interchange of play. Hayley Lauder’s clever through ball was skilfully flicked on by Chinchilla into the path of her teammate, but Lauder’s low driven effort whistled agonisingly wide of the post.
With the scores level, Motherwell headed into half-time full of confidence after holding the Champions level following a strong battling performance in the first half.
However, Glasgow City would break the deadlock minutes into the second half.
Lauder’s looping free-kick was punched clear by Ramsay, but only as far as Chinchilla, who calmly placed her strike high into the net past the Motherwell shot-stopper from a few yards out.
The visitors then doubled their advantage minutes later. A well-worked counter-attack allowed Tyler Dodds to break with pace on the right, before playing through Fulutudilu, who set herself before rifling her strike high into the top left corner, leaving Ramsay with no chance.
City then added a third on the hour mark. Leanne Crichton was dispossessed deep into her own half in what appeared to be a clear foul on the midfielder, but the referee waved play on and Fulutudilu coolly slotted her strike past Ramsay for her second of the game.
The visitors added a fourth with 20 minutes left to play. Molin’s perfectly weighted delivery was met superbly by Colville who guided her headed effort off the inside of the post to extend her sides advantage.
City continued to threaten the Motherwell goal and added their fifth in the latter stages of the game. Lauder’s curling free-kick was met excellently by Clark, who diverted her header into the bottom left corner.
Motherwell netted a well-deserved consolation in the dying stages. Rice’s powerful strike from long-range was too hot to handle for Alexander, who spilled the midfielder’s effort over the line to give Brownlie’s side something to show for their efforts.
Despite the scoreline, Motherwell will have several positives to take after a strong battling performance against tough opposition. Meanwhile, Glasgow City continue to hunt down league leaders Rangers with the gap at the top of the SWPL1 table narrowed down to only two points, with the sides set to meet at ‘The Rangers Training Centre’ next February.
Shot of the match. Photo by Euan Wood