MATCH REPORT | DUFCW TAKE THREE POINTS UP NORTH

DUFCW 2-1 ABERDEEN WOMEN

7:30PM BALMOOR

SWPL1

Dundee United defeated Aberdeen by the odd goal in three on Wednesday evening to move up to ninth in the SWPL.

At a wet and windy Balmoor, home of Peterhead, goals from Tammy Harkin and Danni McGinley sealed the points despite Hannah Stewart’s late penalty.

Graeme Hart made three changes from the side that lost to Rangers at the weekend with Georgie Robb, Tammy Harkin and Cassie Cowper replacing Claire Delworth, Jade McLaren and Nyla Murphy.

United took time to settle but were the first team to threaten when Georgie Robb saw her strike punched wide by Annalisa McCann in the ninth minute.

From the corner, Cassie Cowper sent a looping effort over the bar but they didn’t have to wait long to find the net.

In the fifteenth minute, Robb swung another corner into the danger zone and Tammy Harkin was on hand at the back post to head home her fourth goal of the season.

Dons keeper McCann produced another fine save, this time from Rachel Todd as the winger tried her luck.

Aberdeen’s first chance came after the half-hour mark through Francesca Ogilvie; she was one on one with Fiona McNicoll but the keeper saved easily.

The final opportunity of the half came United’s way and it was another Robb corner that was headed past the post by McGinley.

Graeme Hart’s side came out for the second half with intent and could have doubled their advantage just sixty seconds into the half, McGinley sending a shot over the bar.

After opening the scoring, Harkin was unlucky not to grab a second twice in quick succession when she ran onto Jo Fraser’s through ball before firing wide.

A fantastic passing move from United ended McGinley cutting the ball back for Harkin who saw her effort hit the inside of the post before being cleared off the line.

The second goal was to come and did so in the 56th minute; Danni McGinley sent a low freekick into the bottom corner as it squeezed through the arms of McCann.

This goal sends McGinley into double figures for the season and her fifth goal in five games.

The game flattened somewhat following this with United looking to create further chances.

Fiona McNicoll saved a 78th-minute effort from Hannah Stewart in a somewhat unorthodox fashion as it hit her chest before rebounding off her face.

Sub Claire Delworth sent a low cross into the box with nine minutes to go; Rachel Todd scooping the ball over the bar.

Aberdeen were awarded a 89th-minute penalty for handball and Stewart stepped up to send McNicoll the wrong way.

Deep into injury time, United found themselves a player down when Delworth was booked for apparent time-wasting when passing off a throw-in to Rebecca Foote. This was to have no effect on the result though as Graeme Hart and his squad fully earned their three points to move up to ninth in the league.

Their next fixture is not for another fortnight when they travel to the capital to face Spartans.

TEAMLINE

Starting XI: McNicoll, Donald, Young, McGinley, Robb, Todd (Malcolm 81), Foote, Fraser (McLaren 61), Bruce, Cowper, Harkin (Delworth 61)

Subs not used: Arthur, McQueen, Murphy 

Goals: Harkin 14, McGinley 56

Booked: Delworth

Sent off: Delworth