Queens Ladies produced a five star performance on Sunday to see off Kilwinning Ladies and move into 4th place in the Barclays SWF League one.
Straight from kick off Queens were off and running. Queens line up was slightly changed with Haylie Crosbie playing up front, flanked by Lois Geddes on the left, and Holly Ovens moving to the right wing. It was Ovens who set the early pace, racing down the right time and time again to deliver a series of crosses into the Kilwinning goal area.
Kilwinning managed to avoid conceding in the early exchanges, but it was clear that a goal was on the way, and it duly arrived after 25 minutes when Ovens chased what seemed to be a lost cause and managed to reach the ball before it went out, turned towards goal and fired a lovely lofted shot over the Kilwinning keeper.
Queens continued to attack down the right hand side and a second goal arrived after 29 minutes with striker Haylie Crosbie, recently returned from a long injury layoff, was in the right place to take advantage of the Kilwinning keeper colliding with a defender, and as the ball broke loose, Crosbie was quickest to react, shooting home from close range.
Queens were dominating the game by this stage with charlotte Smith and charlotte Bryden playing a high defensive line and Bryden in particular driving forward at every opportunity. Another goal was on the cards and it arrived after 37 minutes when Lois Geddes picked the ball up outside the area on the left, looked up, and fired a shot over the keeper and into the far corner. Kilwinning grabbed a goal as half time approached, some hesitancy in the Queens defence allowing them to get a shot at goal.
Half time 3-1 to Queens.
The second half saw the intensity of the performance drop slightly and for about twenty minutes the ball seemed to spend more time in the Queens half. Recognising this, head coach Ross Meechan made some changes, bringing on Eve Crombie on the left and Eve Jackson in a striking role.
The changes saw an immediate revival of the high intensity play of the first half and some lovely passing football in the style of Barcelona carved open the Kilwinning defence, ending with Eck Connon coming close with an effort that just squeezed past the post.
The rejuvenated team added another goal when holly ovens was sentthrough on goal and repeater her excellent finish from the first half with another shot over the keeper.
Eve Crombie on the left was giving the defence a hard time and up against an opponent about twice her size, she ragdolled the central defender, leaving her sprawled out on the ground as Eve curled a shot in that the right hand post to make it 5-1 to Queens.
Eve then got away from the same opponent but was dragged back by her well beaten marker. Queens were enjoying their dominance and could have added a couple more golas, with Eve Jackson looking lively, but the final whistle went with the three point staying in Dumfries and 4th spot in the table secured as we head into the last three fixtures before the promotion playoff.
Sponsor’s player of the match was Holly Ovens who revelled in her relocation to the right wing. However it was an excellent team performance with the back four of Freya Brown, Charlotte Smith, Charlotte Bryden and Maisie Copland solid, the midfield trio of Jade Samping, Eck Connon & Jo Gallagher combining well, and the front three each grabbing a goal (or 2).
No game this Sunday.
