Aberdeen Women signed off 2021 in style with a vital SWPL 1 win, beating Hamilton Accies 2-1 at New Douglas Park.
Last season’s top scorer Bayley Hutchison bagged goals in either half, scoring in her third consecutive SWPL 1 match since making her return from injury.
The Dons looked comfortable over the 90 minutes, but couldn’t add to the three points with a clean sheet after conceding a late consolation goal from Josi Giard.
The victory is the first for Aberdeen since beating Accies earlier in the season, and the first points the Dons have picked up since a 0-0 draw with Spartans in September.
Aberdeen looked impressive going forward, with Chloe Gover doing well driving up the right hand in the opening minutes. The best chance came from her whipping in a cross, but the ball bobbled about as targets Eva Thomson and Eilidh Shore were unable to get a clear shot away.
The home side did little to worry Dons’ debutant goalkeeper Aaliyah-Jay Meach, until Hamilton were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box.
But the opportunity was wasted as the referee blew for offside as soon as the ball was lofted over the Aberdeen wall.
Minutes later, the Dons took the lead when Hutchison got on the end of a brilliant ball sent forward by Shore from deep in her own half.
It looked as if the Aberdeen forward might have taken her first touch in the box too wide, but Hutchison still managed to get a shot away from a tight angle, with Accies keeper Jeni Currie unable to claw it from going over the line, despite getting a touch.
Hamilton created a nervy finish to the first half, sending threatening balls into the box with one such cross leaving the Accies players crying out for a penalty, but the referee opted to blow his whistle for half-time instead.
📸 @bayleyhutchison celebrates her goal that gives us the lead at the break! pic.twitter.com/Nn3OCAOswP
— Aberdeen FC Women (@AberdeenWomen) December 12, 2021
Aberdeen should have doubled their lead within minutes of the second half as Johan Fraser sent Hutchison through on goal for a chance to get her brace.
But she selflessly decided to square the ball across the box where Gover was just centimetres away from making contact and tapping the ball it into the net.
However, it didn’t take long for Hutchison to get her second goal of the day as she put her side 2-0 in front, linking up well with Shore again.
In a move that was almost identical to the first goal, Shore sent a long ball forward which cleared Accies backline, but this time Hutchison looked more confident and rounded the keeper with ease to slot the ball into the net.
The Dons had the ball in the net again minutes later, but Loren Campbell’s effort was questionably called offside.
It was a nervy finish for Aberdeen after Hamilton pulled one back in the 89th minute, after a defensive error from Campbell.
Her pass back failed to reach goalkeeper Meach and was instead latched onto by Accies’ Giard who slotted the ball into the net to make it 2-1.
Elsewhere in SWF
In Championship North, Buchan bounced back from last week’s defeat to Caley Thistle, beating Grampian Ladies 7-1 at home.
Stonehaven were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat, losing 22-0 to East Fife on the road.
Westdyke’s final home game of the year was due to be played against Dundee City West, but was called off earlier today because of a frozen pitch.