Borders Fjordhus 1
Merlin Gordonians 1
NATIONAL LADIES SECOND DIVISION
AFTER the mid-season break Borders Fjordhus hosted Merlin Gordonians at a very cold and windy Tweedbank.
The Borders Fjordhus policy of introducing youngsters to the first team continued with no fewer than four players under the age of 16 and Scottish under-16 squad member Lorna Dagg making her debut.
The Borders started the game at a frantic pace with both sides working hard to break the deadlock. On the 25th minute, after a rare intrusion into the home team’s half, Gordonians were awarded a free hit just outside the D. The ball was hit into the danger area, where the striker got her stick to it to push past the home keeper for the visitors to gain the upper hand before the half-time whistle blew.
After a strong team-talk featuring coach Janet Jack imploring her troops to be more decisive and committed, Fjordhus started to take control. Some great attacking runs from defence by Emily Newlands, linking with her midfield of Karen Cornwall and Denise Fairbairn had the visitors in disarray.
It was all Borders and the goal was not long in coming. A trademark jinking run from captain Cornwall saw her fire the ball into the D, where Lucy Inglis played through to the ever present Laura McLean, who slid the ball past the on-rushing keeper.
Both teams strove for the winner in the last 10 minutes and the final whistle came just as Borders launched another attack down the left.
After the game, coach Jack stated that the work rate and desire had been first class in the second half and they needed to build on this performance for the remainder of the season.
“Communication, commitment, composure and confidence are required by all the players,” she stated.
Borders Fjordhus squad: M. Murphy, P. Bell, E. Newlands, N. Weallans, J. Jack, S. Murphy, K. Cornwall, L. Dagg, C. Townsend, D. Fairbairn, E. Lunn, L. McLean, G. Ross, L. Inglis, S. Shiell.