Caitlin and Eartha bookend Accies as Spartans march on

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 10:58

Spartans Girls advanced to the under-13 Scottish Cup quarter-final stage with a 5-3 victory over Hamilton Accies Reds at Ainslie Park.

The Capital team became the first Spartans female outfit to reach the last eight of the national tourney and were fully deserving of their victory with home goalkeeper Eartha Cummings in outstanding form to deny Accies, while at the other end Caitlin Hall notched a double.

It was Accies who assumed an early lead, though, with Colette D'Andragie shooting past Cummings for the opener. Naomi Hume fired in an instant riposte on behalf of Spartans to level the scores minutes later, and Hall completed the turnaround with a corner that found its way into the net past Reds goalkeeper Katie Culton via the leg of a defender.

D'Andragie struck the post as the Lanarkshire visitors sought a way back into the game, and Cummings and Co survived a second scare moments later after Clare Campbell's perfectly -weighted through-ball paved a clear route to goal for the lively Accies forward Samantha MacMillan, but her shot struck the crossbar. Cummings was on hand to deny the away side again, with a brilliant smothering save as MacMillan bore down on goal once more.

The Accies No.?9 came lucky a third time, though, as she capitalised on a defensive slip to tie the game 2-2 on the stroke of half-time.

Spartans' fitness and prowess in front of goal were to prove the telling factors in a one- sided second half, as the hosts ran rampant to run clear of their opponents and plot their path to the latter stages of the national tournament. Cara Ness dispossessed MacMillan 20 yards out before advancing to the edge of the box and angling a perfect finish past Culton and into the top corner of the net to make it 3-2. The killer for Accies came from the boot of an unfortunate defender, who diverted into her own net after a cross from Spartans' Chloe Gilhooley.

Accies pulled a goal back to make it 4-3 but Hall hit her second of the game and rounded off a victory with some time to spare as she drilled a low shot into the far corner from the right-hand side of the box.

Spartans coach Rab Aitchison was delighted to be part of a Spartans team making history with their exploits in the nationwide tournament. He said, "Our passing was much better today. They're a great bunch of girls and have gelled together really well this season."

Aitchison's fellow coach Neil Robertson added, "The girls have continually improved and are now more of a team.

"We've got this far in the competition, so we're in with a chance now."

Spartans have been drawn at home to Aberdonian side East End in the last eight of the competition and will play them at Ainslie Park on 25 September.

Spartans Girls: Eartha Cummings, Cara Ness, Ronaigh Douglas, Holly Robertson, Megan Casey, Naomi Hume, Caitlin Hall, Olivia Aitchison, Taylor Healy, Chloe Gilhooley, Megan Mitchell, Megan Metcalf, Indyah Heard.

Hamilton Accies Reds: Katie Culton, Nicole Barrett, Colette D'Andragie, Ciara McLean, Kathleen Toolen, Clare Campbell, Samantha MacMillan, Olivia Quinn, Darcy Molloy, Nadia Crossan.