Scottish FA Community Quality Mark club Forfar Farmington opened their SWPL campaign with a 2-1 victory over Hutchison Vale last week. Match report from the club...

 

 

FARMINGTON made one change to last weeks starting line-up against Spartans, Iona Colville replacing Kelly Clark who was on Scotland U-17 duty in Sweden.

 

SWPL newcomers Hutchison Vale may well have thought about heading straight back down the road in the 4th minute, when a Julia Scott corner was misjudged by Vale keeper Russell, with the ball crossing the line before being blasted up-field.

 

However the visitors were in no mood to play a supporting role in this SWPL opener, and duly set about making Farmington’s life as difficult as possible. That wasn’t to say Farmington didn’t have chances to further their lead in the early stages of the match. 

 

Cat Gallacher set up Emma McCulley who blazed a shot over, before McCulley could only watch as her effort five minutes later kissed the face of the crossbar before being cleared. Fiona McNicoll could only parry a well struck Vale effort on the quarter hour mark, but the danger was cleared by Iona Colville.

 

Vale secured an equaliser befitting their work ethic when Jen Malone expertly fired home from a corner. Neither side were able to carve out any further clear cut chances before the break; Russell saved well from a Nicola Davidson free kick while a similar Vale manoeuvre was kept out by McNicoll.

 

A slightly improved performance in the second period saw Farmington retain a greater slice of the possession, without turning that possession into goal chances. Indeed, had it not been for an outstanding last ditch tackle from Iona Colville, Vale would have gone ahead in the 62nd minute.

 

A double substitution from the home side, which signalled the competitive return to action of Gemma Collier following a year on the side-lines through injury, seemed to give Farmington an improved goal threat, with Emma McCulley only being denied by brave Goalkeeping from Russell.

 

Finally, in the 83rd minute, Farmington regained the lead. A cracking ball from Fay Hughes split the Vale defence, and whilst McCulley’s shot was blocked by a multitude of bodies, the ball had enough momentum to cross the goal-line.

 

This was a less than stellar performance from Farmington, one which certainly lacked the fizz and cohesion of the previous weeks outing. However that was not to take anything away from Hutchison Vale who will without a doubt prove a challenging proposition for the SWPL’s established sides. Still, a three point haul is never to be disregarded, and Farmington now travel next Sunday to face the leagues other new face – Falkirk.

 

Forfar Farmington: McNicoll, Bruce, Colville, Small, Hughes, Godfrey (Garrett 82), Thomson (Collier 64), Davidson, Scott (Kilcoyne 76), Gallacher (Webster 64), McCulley (McGinley 89).
Subs Not Used: Boag, Soutar (g/k)