Motherwell 2-1 Montrose

21/04/2024 22:59

Motherwell overcame an early second-half response to continue their emphatic run of form, extending their unbeaten record to six-consecutive games whilst ensuring their SWPL status remained intact for the following season.

Kayla Jardine broke the deadlock within the opening phases of play after prodding home Gill Inglis' whipped delivery, but the visitors capitalised upon Motherwell's frustrations in the final third to level the game against the run of play.

Nevertheless, the hosts stood resolute and restored their advantage in the latter stages of the game, with Morgan Cross converting after latching onto a swift counter-attack from Louisa Boyes on the left of the Montrose penalty area.

Head coach Paul Brownlie made five changes from the side that were held to a stalemate in the Scottish capital on Wednesday evening. Emily Mutch returned in the Motherwell goal, with Jo Addie, Gill Inglis, Kayla Jardine and Brooke Nunn all featuring in the starting XI.

With a victory mathematically securing Motherwell's SWPL status ahead of the forthcoming season, the hosts were poised to continue their unbeaten run. Motherwell started firmly on the front foot and deservedly netted the breakthrough prior to the 20-minute mark.

Laura Berry skilfully shifted the ball onto her stronger right-foot to escape her marker before teeing up the overlapping Gill Inglis, who's whipped delivery across the face of goal was calmly placed into the bottom-left corner by Kayla Jardine.

Motherwell continued to flood the Montrose penalty area, with Morgan Cross almost doubling the women of steel's advantage moments later. The striker coasted through the centre of the box before curling a precise effort towards the bottom-right corner but the forward's effort was equally matched by the opposing goalkeeper who reacted well to parry clear of the Montrose penalty area.

The women of steel retained their foothold in the game, but couldn't extend their advantage as the half-time whistle blew.

Moments after the restart, the visitors capitalised on Motherwell's frustrations in the final third. Midfielder Demi Taylor shifted the ball in-between the Motherwell backline before picking out the bottom-right corner with an accurate finish, beyond the reach of Emily Mutch.

Irrespective of the visitors signs of momentum, Motherwell stuck to the game plan and soon restored their advantage.

Boyes' quickfire counter-attack left the midfielder in acres of space on the left before finding the run of Cross, who coolly converted from close-range to extend the women of steel's unbeaten run to six-games with five victories within that period of time.

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