Last week saw the KSC Girls U 13’s continue their good start to the season with a 15-0 victory over East Kilbride. As current holders of this cup, it is always nervous, as you really want to defend your title. With 4 players from the under 11’s playing a supporting role for the 13’s the game got off to a flyer with an opening goal from Megan Bunce scoring from close range. All the nerves were put to bed after this goal and Megan went on to have great game tearing past the East Kilbride players on the right and then left wing. Her final tally for the day was a super hat trick. Hannah Mcnulty our player of the match got a fantastic 4 of our own. With Charis Fenney, running the show in the middle of the park East Kilbride never got a chance to settle and she went on to get 3 goals including a right foot screamer from some distance out. The others on the score sheet included Brianne Hunter (1) Gabby Higgins (1) And Tamara Sommers had a great day at the office getting herself a hat trick on her debut from the 11’s.
A good day’s work and the girls progress onto the semi finals of the cup. Coach Ian Fenney was delighted with all his players but had to pay a special tribute to all the 11’s. Playing above their age group never once showed and they looked very relaxed on the ball. Gabby worked hard up front and got her goal for all her efforts, with the hard tackling Stephanie McManus doing a fine job at left back during her spell on the pitch. Add to this Tamara’s goals and a performance from Caitlin Tomlinson that can only be described as a top quality performances from any full 13 player, then you have to be happy.
KSC Ladies v Paisley Saints Ladies
The Ladies were due to play Viewfield Ladies in a league game but this got cancelled due to cup commitments so a friendly against 1st division Paisley Saints Ladies was arranged. KSC started very slowly and conceded a goal within 2 minutes, the Paisley left winger crashing the ball past Nicolle Andrews and in off the crossbar. Less than a minute later however the equaliser came when a ball into the box from Laura Cotton was helped on by Sam McManus to Jenny Scollay who followed up last weeks two goals with a neat finish into the corner of the net. From Lyn McGregor’s out swinging corner Sam McManus volleyed KSC into the lead before half time, her shot bouncing down and over the Paisley played on the post.
2nd half was very scrappy with KSC showing decision making on the ball. Paisley had most of the play and threatened to equalise a couple of times, Nicolle Andrews saving the home team on a few occasions. Out of the blue KSC stretched their lead when Andrew’s kick out was controlled superbly by McManus who sent Jenny Scollay clear to slide the ball under the keeper for her 2nd goal. 10 minutes from time Sam McManus scored to make it 4-1 when her superb 30 yard strike flew over the keeper into the net to make it 4-1.
6 wins in a row for the ladies team. A very strange game where the 4-1 score line does not reflect the general play of the game. However, after losing 4-0 to the Paisley side back in October, KSC are showing a better toughness and resilience during games just now which is helping them when the football isn’t quite coming together. A big positive for the team was the return of Sarah Paton who played the last 20 minutes after a knee injury picked up last May, her first appearance in 10 months, and she looked sharp when she came on.
Team; Nicolle Andrews, Laura Cotton, Michelle Collins, Helen McLeod, Louise Redmond, Jenny Scollay, Lynsey McQuade, Joanne O’Hare, Naomi Clark, Lyn McGregor, Sam McManus. Subs: Rhona Higgins, Ashleigh Allison, Mhairi Hawksworth, Sarah Paton