Dryburgh Ladies met Morton Women in the SWFL Division 2 Cup Final at Ainslie Park, Edinburgh. Both sides brought some impressive form into the game, and it was set up to be an excellent contest.
Early on the wind was causing havoc. Morton seemed to adapt to it better and went two up within the first 10 minutes.
Dryburgh to their credit kept trying to play their passing game and began to settle a little better, after the early shock of going two goals down. Alana Ramage was first to test the Morton ‘keeper with a free-kick from 20 yards on 19 minutes.
A minute later Steffi Simson went through on goal, but again the Morton ‘keeper thwarted ‘burgh. Hope Ramage then couldn’t turn the rebound goalwards.
Burgh continued to press to get a goal back and got their reward 10 minutes before the break, when Mel Gormley’s in-swinging right footed corner from the left went straight in for her 4th goal in 3 games - getting Dryburgh right back into the contest at 2-1.
Just before the break Alana Ramage again troubled the ‘ton goalkeeper with a free-kick from a similar position to her earlier effort, after Steffi Simson was fouled.
Half time Dryburgh 1-2 Morton
Dryburgh came out second half and took the game by the scruff of the neck, playing some excellent football and pinning the Greenock side back into their own half for long spells. Good build up play from Jodi Wilson and Laura Boag set Steffi Simson free, she was forced wide, but did well to win a corner.
12 minutes into the second period, Alana Ramage made it third time lucky in her personal dual with the Morton ‘keeper - rifling home a stunning left-footed free-kick, via the underside of the bar, to restore parity at 2-2 - sending the healthy ‘burgh following into raptures.
Dryburgh were now controlling the game and were almost ahead when Erin Ross played a pinpoint ball over the top of the Morton Left-backs head to set Hope Ramage clear, Ramage shooting just wide of the target from a tight angle.
Alana Ramage then had another effort with a free-kick from the edge of the area, but this time the ‘keeper was equal to it.
Hope Ramage was next to go close for Dryburgh on 70 minutes, excellent play from the back that started with substitute Aimee Sturrock resulted in Laura Boag playing Ramage in, the goalkeeper came out quickly to block the shot and when the loose ball was collected by Boag, she was just wide with a curling left-foot effort from the edge of the box.
Morton then had a spell of possession themselves and struck the cross bar with a fine strike for outside the box.
With 5 minutes of normal time remaining Chloe Sturrock won the ball on the right, before playing Laura Boag in on goal. The skipper did well to steady herself, but couldn’t get enough on her left-foot strike to beat the goalkeeper and the game ended 2-2 - meaning extra time would be required to find a winner.
Extra time was tough going for ‘burgh, with a number of players beginning to suffer from cramp.
Dryburgh felt they should have had a penalty 5 minutes into the second period of extra time. An excellent ball from Jodi Wilson picked out Chloe Sturrock’s run into the box from the right. The Morton defender put in a last ditch tackle with the winger bareing down on goal and the referee judged that she got enough of the ball, despite Dryburgh’s appeals.
With penalties looming a fine strike from 25 yards from Morton won it for the side from the west coast - breaking Dryburgh hearts.
Full time Dryburgh 2-3 Morton AET
It was a hard pill to swallow for Dryburgh who put so much into the game, controlling it for long periods. Backed by a fantastic travelling support the Ladies done themselves and the club proud, and we can rest assure this is only the beginning of occasions like this for this talented side.
Congratulations to Morton on their victory.
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