Henson Scottish Cup: Quarter-final Round-up

 

(Accies: K. McNally (2), S. Crilly, C. Richardson, H. Templeton (2); Hibs: C. Kerr)

 

(Queens: Lyle; Hibs: S. Fairlie (3), K. Smith, K. McLaughlin, L. Kennedy)

 

(Rangers: J. Condie; Forfar: N. Davidson, C. Webster)

 

 

The semi-final line-up for this season’s Henson Scottish Cup was completed on Sunday as Hamilton Academical, Hibernian and Forfar Farmington progressed to join holders Glasgow City in the draw, where all four remaining sides will be eager to reach Scottish women’s football’s end of season showpiece event in November.

 

Hibernian were convincing 6-1 winners as they faced SWFL 1st Division League Cup holders Queens Park at Lesser Hampden, with Susan Fairlie grabbing a cup hat-trick to help the Edinburgh side progress to the last four. The Hibees will now be looking to reach their third final in as many years, having won the competition in 2011 and finished runners-up to Glasgow City last time around.

 

Hibernian Reserves, meanwhile, were on the end of a 6-1 defeat away to SWPL’s Hamilton Academical, who continued their post-split resurgence with a second-half scoring spree to dispatch of their Edinburgh visitors.

 

Both sides endeavoured to make the match an entertaining spectacle for the watching crowds, with Accies first to attack with McCulloch and Mason teeing up Kirstin McGuire, who shot over.

 

From the resulting goal kick Hibs stated their intention and moved forward with one quick pass from the goalkeeper, resulting in a fabulous long ball over Cara McBrearty’s head and a snapshot which went just wide.

 

Accies continued to put pressure on the Hibs rear-guard with Crilly and Inglis combining well with Toni Mason and Karen McInally.

 

Hibs forced Accies backwards on more than a few occasions, forcing the home side to rely on Terri Donnelly and Julie Ferguson’s security of possession and quality of distribution. However both were on top of their game and Accies willingness to play deeper resulted in opportunities being built.

 

Despite this, Accies did not quite have the sharpness of execution required against a talented Hibs side riding high at the top of the 1st Division. McCulloch, Mason, McInally and Crilly had opportunities for the home side, but a combination of goalkeeping and the woodwork kept them out.

 

Accies opened the deadlock on 30 minutes through McInally after a fine counter-attack from a Hibs corner. Mason, McCulloch and Crilly were all involved again and McInally coolly finished at the second attempt after McCulloch’s shot had been blocked.

 

However Hibs were soon back in the game and equalized only three minutes later after a defensive mix-up allowed Caroline Kerr a run on goal and she finished well.

 

The loss of the goal did not faze Accies, and Ferguson, Donnelly, Inglis and McInally were all imposing themselves on the game, mixing up careful building with beautiful diagonal balls for Carolina Richardson and Cheryl McCulloch, who were only denied by fine goalkeeping.

 

As the second half began, Accies presented a bigger threat. Inspired by an attack-minded back four, McInally and McCulloch shot over before Inglis rampaged down the right side and delivered a deep cross which caused mayhem but Carolina Richardson couldn’t connect.

 

Minutes later, Donnelly made what looked like a superb tackle on the edge of the box but to the incredulity of the crowd and Accies bench it was awarded as a direct free kick to Hibs. Seagrave in the Accies goal was glad to see the rocket shot fly a yard or so over. Donnelly, at the forefront of the action took a short pass direct from the goal kick and strode into midfield with aplomb, feeding

Carolina Richardson whose shot was saved.

 

Yet Accies weren’t to be denied as Cheryl McCulloch and Cara McBrearty linked up on the left to feed Carolina Richardson, who stormed into the box and finished well.

 

From this point McBrearty began to influence the game a lot more on the left, linking with the interchanging McCulloch and McInally whose movement was a real thorn in the side for the Hibees.

 

McCulloch and McInally drifted to the right and after a forward pass by Gillian Inglis played a beautiful one-two which released Sarah Crilly. The Accies number nine bore down on goal and finished high into the roof of the net, making it 3-1 to the home side.

 

After Crilly scored, Hibs had to go on the offensive and this allowed Accies to create more, with chances falling to McCulloch McInally and Crilly. Hibs had opportunities of their own but Terri Donnelly flung herself in front of Caroline Kerr’s shot to keep the gap at two. From the goal kick, McBrearty and Ferguson combined beautifully to play Templeton in, who then released McCulloch, whose shot went over.

 

McBrearty was involved in Accies fourth and most complete goal as five players linked in the build-up. Her fabulous teasing cross from the left met Karen McInally, who was flying through the centre of the Hibs defence, and pounced to flick a beautiful header home.

 

After this goal, it was end to end stuff with the Hibees not allowing Accies to rest on their laurels and forcing Seagrave to come off her line several times to collect and distribute. At the other end, Cheryl McCulloch rattled the crossbar from the edge of the 6-yard box before Templeton was forced wide. With the angle acute, she wrapped her left foot around the ball and it hit the far post and went in.

 

Again, Hibs continued to push for a second but were caught on the counter as Templeton was involved again and rounded the goalkeeper well to finish and make it 6-1, an eighth win on the bounce for Accies, who now await the semi-final draw.

 

In the remaining all-SWPL quarter-final tie, Forfar Farmington staged an amazing late comeback against Rangers at Toryglen to grab a semi-final berth after having fallen behind early in the match.

 

The SWPL league split separated the sides at kick-off, but any assumptions of a one-sided affair were soon set to the side as Rangers set about their task at a brisk pace.

 

Although Rangers enjoyed some early possession, the first chance of the game fell to Forfar when a Nicola Davidson cross was fired low past the post by Julia Scott. Rangers responded quickly with their lively front player forcing Catherine Fitzsimmons into making a low save.

 

Rangers drew first blood in the 16th minute through Jennifer Condie following some sharp interplay, as she fired a vicious dipping shot high past Fitzsimmons.

 

Abbi Grant tried to provide a quick response for Forfar but her shot from distance didn't trouble Khym Ramsay. The Rangers keeper was called into action just past the half hour mark again when she had to save a low Aimee Godfrey effort.

 

Farmington’s best chance of the first-half came seven minutes before the break when Scott’s cross was chested down by Abbi Grant, but her eventual shot was fired over the cross bar from close range.

 

The initial stages of the second half saw the theme of the first maintained, with Farmington’s attacking play breaking down and the home side looking to counter quickly. Khym Ramsay was limited to mopping up duty until the 62nd minute when she fielded a McDonald shot from distance.

 

Whilst far from being a major turning point in the match, McDonald’s effort did signal something of a cautious resurgence for Farmington with their attacking play slowly starting to find a degree of cohesion. Caren Webster and Joanna Collier were introduced to further catalyse the improved offering from the visitors, but when Godfrey’s well struck shot flew just past Ramsay’s post with little under seven minutes left, it seemed that Rangers would earn a hard fought victory.

 

However when Rangers conceded a free kick with two minutes left, Farmington skipper Nicola Davidson stepped up to produce a trademark speciality free kick, with her well flighted ball dropping perfectly into the top corner of Ramsay’s goal.

 

Spurred on by their captain’s contribution Farmington would press for a winner, which duly arrived two minutes into injury time. A great McDonald through ball found the in running Caren Webster who, having watched the bouncing ball carefully, gleefully smashed it past Ramsay.

 

Stay tuned to SWF News and @scotwfootball for news of the semi-final draw!