By Stephen Bark
Glasgow City taught the academicals from Hamilton a footballing lesson at New Douglas Park as they recorded a 6-0 win in the SWPL.
A hattrick from Lauren Davidson and goals from Priscilla Chinchilla, Kinga Kozak and Abbi Grant saw the away side extend their 100 per cent start to the league season.
Eileen Gleeson made four changes to the City side which had defeated Aberdeen in the cup last weekend with Lee Gibson, Chloe Warrington, Claire Walsh and Aliyaah Allie being replaced by Erin Clachers, Kinga Kozak, Meikayla Moore and Erin Greening.
City started well and were given an early opportunity to take the lead when Chinchilla broke forward into the box and was brought down by Eilidh Martin. Up stepped Davidson and she confidently placed the ball into the bottom righthand corner, sending Eilidh Currie in the Accies goal the wrong way.
It could’ve been two shortly after when Davidson’s ball in found Emily Whelan and she forced a top save from Currie. The resulting corner was headed narrowly wide by Moore.
City had the ball in the net again when Davidson’s cross found Chinchilla at the far post and her pass back across the box was turned home by Whelan but the flag was up for offside.
They didn’t have to wait long though. After Amy Muir’s shot was turned behind for a corner, City were awarded a second penalty for a push on Jenna Clark. Again, Davidson stepped up and this time she psyched out the goalie choosing to go left leaving Currie routed to the spot and doubling City’s advantage.
City were creating problems for Accies from the corner flag. First, Lauder found Clark and when her shot was blocked, Davidson had the chance but she couldn’t find the target from a tight angle.
Lauder then again found Clark and her header was blocked on the line by ex-City starlet Lucy Sinclair. Accies couldn’t clear their lines though and the ball broke to Chinchilla on the edge of the area but her shot thundered off the crossbar.
With halftime approaching, Davidson’s cross found Whelan but her shot was saved by Currie. It then broke for Lauder whose shot was blocked before it was third time lucky as Chinchilla fired home.
With City cruising towards three points, you may have forgiven them for taking their foot off the gas in the second half but it took just 40 seconds for Chinchilla to lay the ball off to Kozak who rifled home from 18 yards.
Ten minutes later, Chinchilla was sent clear off the Accies defence. Out came Currie and when the Costa Rican tried to take a touch round the Accies keeper, she was taken down and City were awarded a penalty. With Davidson on a hattrick, there was only one person who could step up and take it and she duly delivered, again opting for the bottom left corner and leaving the keeper with no chance.
Accies best chance of the match came with eight minutes left. Josephine Giard was played through 25 yards from goal but her drive from range flew over the bar.
In the dying minutes, Davidson had the chance to add to her tally when she was played in by Greening but her effort was well saved by Currie. The resulting corner was played to Chinchilla but her drive from the edge of the area was over the bar.
Substitutes Grant and Sarah Gibb almost combined when the former found the later but Grant’s shot from the tightest of angles rolled all the way across goal and wide.
There was time for one more and again it came from a corner. Lauder found Chinchilla and her shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Currie. Chaos then ensued as Accies couldn’t get the ball clear from the far post before Grant got the final touch and forced the ball over the line.
Match Information:
Team Lines
Glasgow City: Clachers, A. Muir (Warrington 61), Lauder, Fulton (Gibb 61), Whelan (Grant 46), Clark, Davidson, Kozak (Prades 56), Moore (Foley 76), Chinchilla, Greening. Subs not used: Gibson, Allie, Martin, Noble.
Hamilton Academical: Currie, Quinn, Coakley, Martin, McIntosh, Quigley (Potter 61), Giard (C. Muir 86), McGonigle (Evans 81), Sinclair, Christie (Gardiner 46), Hay. Subs not used: Rhind, Scott, Molley, Pagliarulo, Mitchell.
Scorers
Glasgow City: Davidson 4’, 22’, 59’, Chinchilla 39’, Kozak 46’, Grant 90+3’
Yellow cards
Glasgow City: Muir 45+1’
Hamilton Academical: Martin 4’, Quigley 22’, Giard 27’
Referee: Chris Gentles
Stadium: New Douglas Park