WOMEN BEAT KILMARNOCK 4 - 0

It was a comfortable win for Dundee United on Sunday as they defeated Kilmarnock 4-0 at Rugby Park in the Scottish Building Society Scottish Women’s Premier League Two.  

A first half own goal was added to by Robyn Smith and a double from the returning Danni McGinley to lift them to second in the league. 
 
Gavin Beith’s side made two changes after their win over Boroughmuir Thistle last week as Aaliyah-Jay Meach and Philippa McCallum replaced Caroline Nachman and Haley Kern. 
 
They got off to a dream start after eight minutes when Philippa McCallum’s corner was headed past her own keeper by a defender. 
 
Rebecca Foote found Robyn Smith with a cross but despite the striker getting a foot to it the Kilmarnock keeper gathered with ease. 
 
Stina Kleppe almost doubled the advantage in the 16th minute when her 30 yard rocket flew inches over the bar before McCallum failed to find the target with a similar effort. 
 
Kilmarnock’s first clear chance of the game fell to Lauryn Reside just before the half hour mark as she tested Aaliyah-Jay Meach but couldn’t beat her. 
 
Kirsty O’Brien put a teasing ball across goal but there were no takers in a blue and white shirt and it ended in a goal kick to United shortly before Reside tried her luck again and found Meach in fine form to deny her. 
 
With ten minutes remaining of the half, Robyn Smith found herself one on one with the keeper after racing past a defender but was denied with a fine save. 
 
Three minutes remaining Killie’s Abby Robinson found herself with the ball but couldn’t find the target from 25 yards. 
 
Smith couldn’t find a way past Hunter again two minutes into the second half as United looked to add to their lead. 
 
At the other end Shelley Campbell headed wide from a Sloey cross for the hosts in the 53rd minute. 
 
Two minutes later United doubled their advantage with a great counter attack; Jade McLaren, Neve Guthrie and Steffi Simson all involved in the build up leading to Smith squeezing in her seventh of the season. 
 
Guthrie was denied shortly after as Smith’s cut back found her but her effort was deflected wide. 
 
Danni McGinley returned from injury just after the hour mark and United almost had a third thanks to her within four minutes; her cross finding Smith who laid the ball off for Napier but her low shot was blocked and cleared. 
 
Seven minutes after coming on and McGinley was back in amongst the goals as she made it 3-0; Smith’s through ball finding the striker and she coolly slotted past Hunter. 
 
With sixteen minutes remaining the hosts had a corner from Robinson and she found Kirsten Rolph but she headed over the bar. 
 
Napier couldn’t get her volley on target from the edge of the box as the game edged into the last ten minutes. 
 
McGinley added her second of the afternoon with three minutes left via a deflection but it was a very successful cameo from the striker. 
 
The win takes the side up to second ahead of the final game before the winter break next week when they visit Boroughmuir Thistle. 
 
Kilmarnock: Hunter, Burrows, Gray, Robinson, Campbell (Munro 62), Neil, Reside (Sloan 75), O’Brien (Harty 68), Middleton, Fletcher (Sloey 46), Rolph 
 
Subs not used: Galt, McDowall, McCulloch 
 
Dundee United: Meach, McMillan (Carter 78), Foote, McLaren, Guthrie (McGinley 62), Smith (Robson 82), Kleppe (Kern 84), Napier, McCallum (Simson 49), Burns, Clemison 
 
Subs not used: Robbie

Pictured: Neve Guthrie, pic Craig Doyle