Scotland women 2-1 Wales women: Jane Ross excels

A SUPERB all-round performance by striker Jane Ross was the highlight as Scotland beat Wales and extended their winning run at East End Park yesterday.

Scorers: Scotland women - J Ross (5), Mitchell (69); Wales women - Harding (12)

Ross, who has joined the Swedish club Vittsjo, scored the opening goal and worried the Welsh defence throughout with her pace and excellent close control. Former Glasgow City team-mate Emma Mitchell, who now plays for SGS Essen in Germany, scored the winner in the second half. “It’s fantastic to see Jane’s development,” said Scotland coach Anna Signeul. “She is such a good role model because she wasn’t the best player in her age group. She has worked so hard and her work ethic and professionalism are first class. She and Kim Little are on fire at the moment. Wales have a really good goalkeeper in Nicola Davies, otherwise we could have scored five or six.

“I’m pleased with the win. We lost a bit of tempo in the second half but there were a lot of positives to take from the game.”

Scotland dominated the game on a poor surface which did the home team’s short passing game no favours. They missed several chances, particularly in the first half, and also had two strong penalty claims turned down. The result took Scotland’s winning run to three, coming on top of previous victories against Italy and Holland which have helped push the Scots up to 21st in the Fifa rankings.

Signeul’s side were ahead in only five minutes when Jenny Beattie fed Ross and the striker slipped the ball past Davies.

Wales were so off the pace that it was a real shock when they equalised with a simple goal after 12 minutes. Scotland were caught out through the middle and when Helen Ward sent the ball to Natasha Harding she had only goalkeeper Shannon Lynn, making her first start in Scotland, to beat – and duly did.

The Scots got the win they deserved when Mitchell scored from close range after being put in by Little.