Spartans 2-2 Motherwell

18/04/2024 12:30

A frustrating evening of mixed-emotions for the women of steel in the Scottish capital, as Motherwell extended their unbeaten run to five games but were forced to settle for a point in a tense encounter with relegation-survival hopefuls Spartans at Ainslie Park.

The hosts broke the deadlock early into the second-half through Rebecca Galbraith, with Laura Berry restoring the scoreline with an assured equaliser shortly after the hour mark. Motherwell rallied in the second-half and looked firmly in the ascendency when the young Scottish forward secured a brace after converting Gill Inglis' low delivery, but a Dion McMahon header in the latter stages of the game ensured a point for both sides.

Head coach Paul Brownlie made six changes to the starting XI from the side that overcame Dundee United at Fir Park last weekend. Rebecca Cameron returned to start in the Motherwell goal, with Eve Donald, Bailley Collins, Sarah Gibb, Murron Cunningham and Sophia Martin all featuring in the starting teamsheet.

Despite being named captain for the encounter with Spartans, illness forced midfielder Amy Anderson to drop out of the matchday squad with Louisa Boyes taking place in the Motherwell midfield-three.

Neither side could find a foothold in the game within the opening exchanges, but Motherwell came closest to netting the early advantage. Cutting inside from the right-hand side, Berry skilfully worked her way across the edge of the Spartans penalty area before teeing up Cunningham at the edge of the box, but the midfielders ambitious attempt forced Alicia Yates into a comfortable stop.

Cameron was soon tested in the Motherwell goal, with a close-range Spartans free-kick clearing the claret and amber wall, but the young shot-stopper reacted quickly to parry beyond the near post.

Unable to find their rhythm in the game, Motherwell's frustrations were confounded when the referee was forced to pause the game with an injury to the match official. Without an immediate replacement on-hand, the lengthy break in play remained until a local backup could arrive.

Efforts from Berry and Morgan Cross threatened the Spartans goal, but the visitors couldn't find the breakthrough as the first-half drew to a close.

Despite having a greater share of possession and goalscoring opportunities, Spartans found the opener against the run of play. A floated free-kick from the halfway-line sailed invitingly into the Motherwell six-yard box, and the unmarked Galbraith calmly placed a headed effort beyond the reach of Cameron.

However, Motherwell's never say die attitude shone through, and the visitors soon netted the equaliser. A quick counter-attack left Brooke Nunn racing through the centre of the Spartans half before teeing up Berry at the edge of the box. The forward accurately picked out the overlapping run of Gill Inglis, who was brought down inside the penalty area.

Berry stepped up and calmy dispatched her fifth Motherwell goal, with a composed side-footed finish into the bottom-right corner.

In the latter stages of the game, Motherwell had completed the comeback, with Inglis' again the provider, drilling a low delivery across the face of goal, and Berry again escaping her marker to convert from 12-yards out.

Despite remaining firmly in control of the encounter, Spartans found a late equaliser against the run of play, with McMahon guiding a header beyond Cameron from a whipped corner kick.

Motherwell move five points behind Aberdeen in the push for seventh place, but continue their unbeaten run to five successive games.

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