The sun was shining in Edinburgh on an unusually mild November morning as Dryburgh Athletic Girls 18’s made the familiar trip south, taking on Boroughmuir Thistle in their final game of the 2022 season on Sunday.
Burgh were aiming to round off their title winning campaign in style by remaining unbeaten in the league throughout the entire season.
Dryburgh: Reid; Fyall, McDevitt, Lafferty, McIlravey; Thomson, Hopkins, Howett; Lord, Marsh, Hughes. Subs: Myles, McPhail, Brown.
Right from the start both teams looked keen to get the ball down and play, with both sides having good spells of possession in a fairly even opening 15 minutes.
It was Dryburgh though that began to pin their opponents back and created some decent openings, particularly down the left where Lily Hughes was looking a threat.
Despite starting to take control of the game, Dryburgh failed really to test the Boroughmuir keeper for much of the first half. That was until Denver Hopkins found the lively Hughes with a superb defence splitting pass. The winger came in off the left to dispatch her right-footed shot beyond the keeper, putting Dryburgh 1-0 up.
The champions almost doubled their advantage just before the break, with Leah McIlravey making a lung bursting run from left back, finding herself in the centre forward position, but her effort was blocked by the keeper.
The second half began with Dryburgh creating two opportunities within a couple of minutes of the re-start. Megan Brown, who had come on at the break, twice finding a yard of space and creating openings for Emmie Myles who couldn’t take advantage.
It was that combination though that would eventually get Burgh their second, with Brown again playing the ball in behind the home defence and Burgh’s top scorer, Myles, lashing home from 15-yards with her left-foot.
Dryburgh were now well in the ascendancy and playing some great football, with the whole team looking confident and composed on the ball.
It was almost 3-0 when Chloe Lord had her shot well saved by the keeper, after a great run by the winger. Emmie Myles also went close to getting her second of the game.
That was only to be a brief reprieve for Boroughmuir however, and just a few minutes later it was 3-0 Dryburgh. Lord, this time driving down the right, played a fine cross into the box which was put away from close range by Megan Brown for her 14th goal of the season, an excellent return from the youngster in her first season at 18’s.
Both sides had chances to add to the scoring but nothing really clear cut. Mollie Howett went closest for Dryburgh, when her volley from a Belle Thomson corner went just over the bar. Dryburgh then had Howett to thank at the other end, with a timely tackle at the back post stopping what looked like a definite goal for the home side.
Dryburgh in the end fully merited their victory and clean sheet. Every single player played their part in an excellent display. The victory sees them go through the whole league campaign unbeaten, a great feat at any level of football.
Final score:
Boroughmuir Thistle 0-3 Dryburgh Athletic
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