Queen of the South Ladies anticipated a tough game on Friday when they took on Championship team Renfrew Ladies in the League Cup.
Megan Murray, Jordyn Gallagher & Eve Crombie all came into the starting line up for Queens. The first half started at a high tempo and with only 8 minutes played Renfrew took the lead when their striker flicked the ball in at the near post from a cross from the left. Megan Hodgson & Charlotte Brydson came close with shots that just cleared the bar, but it was Eve Jackson, back in goal for this game, who saved Queens with a superb save, diving to her left to turn the ball round the post. Charlotte Smith released Eve Crombie down the right but her cross to the back post was narrowly missed by Holly Ovens. Queens found themselves further behind on the stroke of half time when a headed clearance from Shiv Hodgson was intercepted by a Renfrew player whose controlled finish ended up in the net.
Into the second half, and with Charlotte Smith and Shiv Hodgson outstanding at the heart of the Queens defence and Alexandra Connon, Charlotte Bryden & Jo Gallagher controlling the midfield, Queens went in search of a goal. Gallagher had a near thing when her powerful shot rebounded from the crossbar. Queens were playing some lovely football and finally they got their reward in the 54th minute when a well-placed free kick from Freya Brown found the head of Charlotte Bryden, whose header low into the bottom right corner. Queens were pushing for an equaliser, with Eve Crombie on the right and Megan Hodgson, playing through the pain barrier with a heavily strapped ankle, a constant threat. However Renfrew were not about to let their lead slip, and they restored their two goal advantage in the 68th minute with a breakaway and a lofted shot over eve Jackson into the net. Queens brought on Demi Torrance, Lois Kerr & Abbie Gray as legs tired, but the final chance went to Holly Ovens whose shot was well saved by the Renfrew Keeper.
Final Score Renfrew Ladies 3 Queens Ladies 1.
This Sunday Queens take on Edinburgh Caley at Palmerston (not NWCC). As at the time of writing, the kick off is 2pm but if this is changed it will be notified via the usual social media channels.
