Clydesdale Western claim Scottish Cup with inspired comeback
Milne Craig Clydesdale Western staged an excellent second half comeback against Edinburgh University to claim the Women’s Arthur McKay Scottish Cup with a thrilling 5-4 win over the students at Peffermill today.
The Titwood side took the lead in the 17th minute when international midfielder Nicki Skrastin’s reverse stick shot was parried into the air by the university’s goalkeeper Nicola Cochrane, only for the ball to fall behind the shot-stopper and over the line to make it 1-0.
Edinburgh University came storming back three minutes later only to be foiled by a goal-line clearance by Cat Ralph following Nikki Kidd’s penalty corner strike.
However, two goals inside three minutes for Edinburgh University gave them a 2-1 lead at the half-time interval; Camilla Lyttle’s dive to deflect the ball past Kirstin Stobo made it 1-1 in the 29th minute before Kidd turned home Louise Campbell’s cross at the back post in the 32nd minute.
Three minutes after the re-start, the students extended their lead at 3-1 when Campbell and Kidd combined again to give the Scotland international her second goal of the game in the 38th minute.
Clydesdale Western came roaring back into the contest only a minute later when Ralph thundered a penalty corner strike past Cochrane to bring them back into the game at 2-3. Skrastin then went close to an equalising goal when her swivel and shot narrowly missed the target.
Nonetheless, the Glasgow side were not to be thwarted for long and they were awarded a penalty stroke in the 48th minute, which Ralph dispatched with aplomb to make it 3-3 and get her side back on level terms.
With the Aberdeen Asset Management National League Division 1 runners-up in the ascendency, they took the lead in the 52nd minute when striker Holly Cram connected with Ali Howie’s cross inside the circle to deflect the ball past Cochrane for a 4-3 advantage.
In the 59th minute, Neil Menzies’ side were awarded another penalty stroke and this time Susan McGilveray stepped up to give her side a 5-3 lead.
Edinburgh University narrowed the lead to one goal only a minute later when player-coach Sam Judge finished smartly, making it 5-4 and setting up a tense finale.
However, it was Clydesdale Western who finished the stronger team and Ralph was denied a sixth goal and a hat-trick by Cochrane in the 65th minute. Nevertheless her side held out to record a famous victory and take the Scottish Cup back to Titwood.
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