Spartans 1 Queen’s Park 1

Craig Joyce made five changes to the lineup for today’s match with Lauren McGregor, Jordan McLintock, Rosie McQuillan and Murron Cunningham starting in place of Emma Craig, Charlize McFadyen, Chloe Muir and Lucy Inman with Rosie McQuillan making her first start for The Spiders.

Queen’s Park started the game on the front foot with a healthy control over the possession which resulted in a shot on target from Abby Callaghan being saved by Alicia Yates in goal.

The Spiders then showcased great defending with two attacks prevented down the left-hand side; the first being Hannah Jordan’s cross being intercepted well by Hannah Cunningham before Aimee Anderson’s chance was also squandered as Darcy Molley and Nicole Cairney muscled her out of possession.

The visitors regained control of the game and Jordan McLintock tried her luck from range but Yates was there to make another good save. A minute later, Rebecca Foote had her attempt saved by Lauren McGregor before being cleared effectively by Morgan Hay.

Olivia King had a great opportunity just before the 15-minute mark with a great ball to Nicole Cariney who was intercepted before she could make the cross into the danger area.

Aimee Anderson had a great chance to put her side in front but her shot from the low-cross was misfired and sent over the top of the bar.

After a period of possession without the ball, Queen’s Park managed to get themselves back on the front foot but Abby Callaghan didn’t have time to get her shot away to convert.

The Spartans found themselves in a good position with ten minutes left in the half but their whipped free-kick was headed away well by Lia Tweedie to prevent the chance.

Minutes later, Queen’s Park threatened again via Abby Callaghan who managed to get onto the end of a well-placed long ball but her shot was saved again by Alicia Yates. Olivia King was the next to trouble the hosts but her shot from distance was narrowly wide of the post.

The next chance for Spartans came minutes before half-time as Hannah Jordan’s brilliant first time volley rattled the crossbar before coming back into play. Jordan managed one more attempt before the whistle with only the keeper to beat but Lauren McGregor made a fantastic save to keep things level at the break.

Half Time: Spartans 0-0 Queen’s Park

The Spartans looked to threaten early-on in the second half with a great display of pace down the flanks but they were not able to convert as Murron Cunningham forced them out of play. Queen’s Park responded immediately with a chance of their own courtesy of Rosie McQuillan’s well-taken corner but Nicole Cairney couldn’t get her foot on the end of it.

In the 56th minute, Queen’s Park were finally rewarded for their constant attacking threat as Rosie McQuillian whipped in another great ball, this time from a free-kick, and HANNAH CUNNINGHAM did well to get on the end of the bouncing ball following a save from the keeper to fire The Spiders in front.

The hosts looked set to equalise just after the hour-mark but Lauren McGregor read the play well and came out to clear the danger on the edge of her box.

Rosie McQuillan looked to set up Nicole Cairney again but for the second time in the match, she missed her chance to shoot narrowly. Spartans were able to capitalise on their next chance after HANNAH JORDAN’s cross-turned-shot found the back of the net.

McQuillan found herself on the attack again, in search of a goal that would restore the lead for her side, but her long range effort ended up just wide of the target. Minutes later, keeping to the end-to-end nature of the game, Spartans tried for the winner but Lauren McGregor made an excellent save to deny Keira Chuter.

Neither team was able to convert any of their chances in the closing stages, resulting in a share of the spoils at Ainslie Park.

Full Time: The Spartans 1-1 Queen’s Park

Spartans: Alicia Yates, Sarah Clelland, Robyn McCaffery, Kate Fraser, Ronaigh Douglas (Tegan Browning, 88’), Tegan Reynolds ( Ella Beaton-Hill, 60’), Aimee Anderson (Olivia Chomczuk, 60’), Rebecca Foote, Erin Rennie, Cacee McKenna (Keira Chuter, 60’), Hannah Jordan. Subs not used: Mya Bates, Keeley Brayshaw, Eilidh Davies, Abbie Johnstone, Emma Thomson.

Queen’s Park: Lauren McGregor, Hannah Cunningham, Murron Cunningham, Morgan Hay, Darcy Molley, Lia Tweedie, Jordan McLintock (Emma Craig, 61’), Olivia King, Rosie McQuillan (Charlize McFayden, 83’), Abby Callaghan (Ami Robertson, 61’), Nicole Cairney.
Subs not used: Ciara Bonner, Monica Harty, Rachel Wright, Megan Quigley, Millie Paton.

Queen’s Park find themselves with a midweek clash as they head to New Douglas Park to face the current SWPL 1 champions in Celtic. The rescheduled fixture will be played on the 6th November at New Douglas Park in Hamilton with a 7.15PM kick-off.