By Craig Edwards
Glasgow City moved six points clear at the top of the Scottish Women’s Premier League with an away victory at Dundee United.
An Erin Greening hat-trick along with Lisa Forrest’s first goals for Glasgow City helped secure all three points in the City of Discovery.
Hayley Lauder, Emily Whelan and Lauren Davidson also got on the scoresheet while Danni McGinley scored for the home side.
Leanne Ross made three changes from the side that beat Spartans in midweek with Erin Clachers, Chloe Warrington and Megan Foley, fresh off her goal on Wednesday night, all coming into the starting eleven.
On the journey up to Gussie Park, Ross would have been dreaming of a quick start and that’s exactly what City did. With less than 45 seconds on the clock, the visitors had the opening goal. An early corner for City was swung into the back post where Greening was arriving. Her first effort was kept out by Fiona McNicoll but the ball came back to the American who forced the ball into the net.
One became two less than five minutes later when cross into the penalty area was only cleared to Lauder on the edge who calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner.
It was a frantic opening with City creating numerous chances but unable to find a third. A goal did come but at the other end. McGinley picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired it low into the bottom corner giving Clachers no chance.
Any United comeback was short lived as two minutes later, Whelan found the back of the net at the second attempt after she was played through with a ball that cut open the United defence like a hot knife through butter.
Whelan, along with Kozak and Davidson would all be denied by McNicoll in the Dundee United goal throughout the first half while Davidson saw a shot crash off the crossbar as City looked for a fourth.
A half time substitution for Glasgow City saw Forrest replace Whelan and she would be involved in the move that saw City score their fourth just after the hour mark. Foley drove into the box before cutting the ball back to Forrest. Her effort was saved but Davidson was quickest to react to tap the ball into the net from close range.
Kozak nearly scored City’s fifth when she poked the ball past the onrushing McNicoll but Cassie Cowper was quick enough to get back and clear the ball for a corner. From the resulting corner, Greening added her second of the afternoon as she was found by a cross at the back post before turning and firing the ball low across goal and into the corner.
Four minutes later, the right back completed her hat-trick when once again, a short corner was crossed in from a different angle and found her at the back post and she stabbed the ball past McNicoll.
City weren’t finished yet as the game entered the final 15 minutes and the next goal would be greeted with the biggest cheer of the day. Forrest has had a busy week since scoring in the U18s Scottish Cup Final last Sunday and this Sunday would see her score her first goal for the First Team. Foley’s cross found Forrest in the penalty area and she slotted the ball past McNicoll.
Forrest added her second shortly before the full time whistle when she tapped home Lauder’s cross after Clachers had been called into action to deny McGinley and Leah Sidey as City capped off a busy week with another three points.
Glasgow City are in action again next Sunday when we welcome Hamilton Academical to Petershill Park for the second time in 2023.
Match Information
Team Lines
Dundee United: McNicoll, Donald, McLaren, McGinley, Guthrie (Malcolm, 67), Smith, Robb (Murphy, 67), Foote, Fraser (Young, 67), Cowper, Delworth (Sidey, 60). Subs not used: McQueen.
Glasgow City: Clachers, Warrington, Lauder, Prades Insa, Whelan (Forrest, 46), Clark (Ward, 80), Davidson (Chinchilla, 71), Kozak (Fulton, 71), Moore, Foley, Greening (Grant, 80). Subs not used: Gibson, Walsh, Reid, Gibb.
Scorers
Dundee United: McGinley 15
Glasgow City: Greening 1’ 70’ 74’ Lauder 5’ Whelan 17’ Davidson 64’ Forrest 77’ 90
Yellow Cards
Dundee United: Guthrie 22
Glasgow City: Warrington 56
Referee: Abbie Hendry
Stadium: Gussie Park