International Friendly
Scotland 3-0 Northern Ireland
Friday, 14 July 2023
Kilmac Stadium, Dundee

Scorers

Scotland: Cuthbert (32), Kerr (37), Thomas (38).

Team News

Captain Rachel Corsie was ruled out pre-match through injury and was replaced in the squad by Kelly Clark. Likewise, Lisa Evans was recalled after the withdrawal of Claire Emslie.

Both Clark and Evans were named on the bench, while Erin Cuthbert was back in the thick of it from the start after having to miss the last camp in April.

Scotland were captained on the rain-soaked night in Dundee by Caroline Weir.

As It Happened

Prior to kick-off, both sets of players took part in a minute’s applause for former Men’s National Team manager Craig Brown, who sadly passed away recently.

There was an early sight at goal for Martha Thomas, on the night of her 25th cap. With three minutes on the clock, Fiona Brown played a perfectly-weighted through-ball from deep into the path of Thomas’ run but her effort was blocked.

Weir and Cuthbert both tried their luck in the opening exchanges, forcing smart saves from visiting keeper Shannon Turner as Scotland upped the ante.

Scotland edged even closer on the half-hour mark. Kirsty Hanson's driven, low cross from the left found Thomas at the far post, but Cuthbert - having started the move with a wonderful turn and pass in midfield - was unlucky in inadvertently blocking the shot.

Cuthbert was not to be denied, and opened the scoring a couple of minutes later.

Weir found Emma Watson just outside the box and she, in turn, squared for Cuthbert, whose kept her cool to unleash a shot that squirmed beyond the diving Turner.

The second followed in quick succession, when Weir's wicked in-swinger found the head of Sam Kerr. 

There was some debate about whether Northern Ireland's Demi Vance or team-mate Sophie Howard got the final touch, but Kerr was credited with the decisive intervention.

It was 3-0 on 38 minutes, with Hanson again influential. Yet again she cut to the by-line and delivered a dangerous cross. It was hooked away but ricocheted in back off a grateful Thomas.

Scotland were cheered off at half-time by an appreciative - and sizeable - home crowd who had braved the elements.
It was a proud night for Amy Rodgers, who was introduced on 61 minutes for her Scotland debut - with Lauren Davidson also substituted on as Pedro Martinez Losa shuffled the pack.
Scotland looked dangerous every time they broke forward.
It could easily have been 4-0 on 77 minutes, with another threatening corner from Weir somehow evading everyone in the six-yard box. 
With 10 minutes left, Kirsty MacLean was also sent on for her debut after catching the eye for Rangers.
Scotland are back in action on Tuesday, when they travel to Tampere to play Finland, as part of the build-up to the first-ever UEFA Women’s Nations League.

Kicking off in September, Scotland will face off against England, the Netherlands and Belgium, with tickets available on Monday at 10am. All three games are free for Scotland Supporters Club members, with an automatic discount applied at check-out when members are logged into their account. Additional free tickets for members can be allocated to other friends and family associated with your account.

Teams

Scotland: Gibson, Brown (Evans 71), Howard (Rodgers 61), Mukandi, Docherty, Cuthbert, Kerr (Clark 79), Weir (MacLean 79), Watson (Mclauchlan 71), Thomas (Davidson 61), Hanson.

Unused Substitutes: Fife, Cumings, Hay, Clark, Muir, Napier.

Northern Ireland: Turner, McKenna, McFadden (Morgan 87), Holloway, Vance, Andrews, Furness (Callaghan 60), McCarron (Bell 59), Hamilton (Wilson 87), Magill (McGuinness 68), Wade (Maxwell 59).

Unused Substitutes: Norney, Burrows, Caldwell, Beattie, McMaster, Woods.