By Graham Falk
City had a late debut goal from new signing Kerry Beattie to thank as they returned to league action with a narrow 1-0 over Hamilton at Petershill.
In a game that saw the home side denied by an outstanding Jeni Currie performance in the Accies goal, an 87th minute winner from Beattie sealed a vital three points.
Head coach Eileen Gleeson recalled Lee Alexander and Claire Walsh to the squad in the only two changes from the 9-0 win over Queen’s Park last weekend.
The away side would get the first chance of game when Tiree Burchill broke free after a long ball down field, but solid defending from Walsh ensured she couldn’t get a shot on goal.
Prischila Chinchilla would have City’s first effort of the game after nine minutes when her curled drive from the edge of the area smashed off Currie’s crossbar.
Minutes later, a driving run from Aoife Colvill offered captain Hayley Lauder a great opportunity to put City into the lead, though Currie was equal to her placed effort - though the resulting corner offered the skipper another opportunity to break the deadlock, but Accies were relieved to see her shot go inches wide.
Clever advantage played from the referee would present City a great chance to score on the quarter of an hour mark, but Chincilla would once again have to watch with anguish as her shot hit the inside of the post.
A stubborn Accies defence would once again deny Chinchilla 15 minutes from the break when Darcy Molley did enough to put the Costa Rican off just as she looked set to tap home Colvill’s superb cross.
It was Lauren Davidson’s turn to go close next when her deft touch to Agata Filipa’s cross trickled wide.
The bar would rattle again for City, seconds before half time when Mairead Fulton dipped a delightful shot that cannoned off the crossbar.
The second half began in in similar vein and the opening goal almost came from a fine piece of individual brilliance from Lauder, though Currie pulled off the save off the match to keep the scores level.
City would once again go close, but phenomenal goal line clearance would prevent Walsh from heading home - and Currie would once again make a tremendous block to deny Davidson from close range seconds later.
With the away goal living a charmed life, a venomous free kick from Lauder would then be tipped onto the bar by the Accies stopper, before she repeated the trick from a goal bound Jenna Clark header.
10 minutes from the end, it would be Fulton’s turn to test the Hamilton stopper with a 25-yard drive but - as she was almost all game - Currie was equal to it.
It looked like Hamiton hearts were about to be broken as the game edged into the final 10 minutes when Lauder’s free kick fell to the feet of Walsh, but Currie was equal to it yet again as City frustration grew.
And just as it looked like time was running out for the reigning champions, new signing Kerry Beattie was on the spot to save the day with a fantastic finish beyond the helpless Hamilton defence with just minutes remaining.