Scotland Women 4 - 1 Greece Women: Scots recover from setback to take step towards World Cup

If they can return from Denmark with three points on Wednesday, they will have a fighting chance of making next year's finals in Germany.

Anna Signeul's team recovered from an early aberration to coast through this one, although it wasn't until the final minutes that the outcome was concluded. Once again, Kim Little was outstanding for Scotland, together with their centre-half, Jennifer Beattie, an imposing presence at the back. Only an Achilles injury to Julie Fleeting, now doubtful for Wednesday, cast a shadow over the success.

Impressive though they were, a crowd of just 561 was there to see it, a statistic that led Signeul to emphasise how important qualification would be. "It would be massive," said the coach. "For such an important game, it was a disappointing crowd.

"There should have been 1,400 here. We need some success so that we can get more spectators, more sponsors, more money. We need to take the game to the next level, maybe start to have clubs with coaches who are paid. At the moment, it is down to the time volunteers want to give up."

Scotland, who failed to make the European Championship finals only on away goals, have never reached the World Cup finals, but they are heading in the right direction. Their biggest problem could be negotiating a qualifying system that is all but impenetrable. Even the group winners do not progress automatically. Their prize is a further phase that seems to include play-offs within a play-off.

None of which was quite so mystifying as Gemma Fay's contribution to the early stages. With only five minutes gone, and Scotland up against a gusting wind, the goalkeeper inexplicably decided to dribble round a striker in her own penalty box.

Caught in possession, the Celtic player brought down her opponent, an offence for which she was lucky to escape a red card. Danai-Eleni Sidira scored the penalty.

Scotland, in fact, turned the game on its head in just a couple of first-half minutes. The equaliser came when Beattie headed in a corner by Megan Sneddon, the second when Little's header came back off the bar, and Fleeting converted the rebound.

Little was easily the most accomplished player on view. Balanced and comfortable on the ball, she also has a range of skills that will soon bring her wider recognition.Although Ifeoma Dieke of Boston Breakers is Scotland's only full-time professional, the new league set to be established in England next year will surely regard Little as worth a wage packet.

"She is absolutely phenomenal," said Fleeting, her Arsenal team-mate. "A fantastic player to watch. She has a huge future."

With FIFA describing women's football as the world's fastest-growing sport, it is no wonder the young players coming through are better than their predecessors. In the second half here, Fleeting was replaced by Celtic's Christie Murray, a 20-year-old who seemed to be blessed with the kind of subtlety hitherto demonstrated only by Little. And the half-time match between two girls' teams included a solo goal that produced not only a round of applause, but a sharp intake of breath.

Having led by only 2-1 for much of the game, it was a relief for Scotland to have their domination rewarded in the closing stages.

Rachel Corsie headed in another Sneddon corner, and Suzanne Grant beat the goalkeeper with a cute chip.

Next stop Denmark.

P W D L F A Pts

Denmark 7 6 1 0 45 0 19

Scotland 7 6 0 1 24 5 18

Greece 7 3 0 4 10 18 9

Bulgaria 7 1 2 4 7 24 5

Georgia 8 0 1 7 3 42

Yesterday

Scotland 4, Greece, 1

Georgia 1, Bulgaria 1

Wednesday's final matches

Greece v Bulgaria

Denmark v Scotland

• Eight European group winners will progress to next month's play-offs, producing four qualifiers for the finals. A fifth European side will be determined via further play-offs and they will meet a team from CONCACAF zone in a play-off for one more berth in Germany.

Scotland: Fay; Beattie, Corsie, Dieke, Fernon; Grant (L Ross 90), Sneddon, Little (Jones 88), Love; Fleeting (C Murray 46), Hamill.

Greece: Charalampidou; Gkatzogianni (Kogmbouli 87), Chatzigiannidou, Papadupunlou, Mitkou; Kakampouki; Adamaki (Tselekoglou 63), Sidira, Kydonaki; Panteliadou, Kontomichi (Michalakidou 58).