Motherwell took a step closer to their Sky Sports Cup dreams, as the women of steel dismantled visitors Dundee United to secure their place in the next round.
Kaela McDonald-Nguah’s magnificent strike from distance fired the women of steel into the ascendency midway through the first half, before Gill Inglis replicated her teammates strike minutes later.
Tammy Harkin pulled one back for the visitors in the second half, but Motherwell held out to progress to the next round of the Sky Sports Cup.
Following last weekend’s defeat to league leaders Rangers, Paul Brownlie made four changes from the previous outing, with McDonald-Nguah, Kodie Hay, Brogan Anderson and London Pollard all returning to the starting XI whilst Lori Gardner, Katie Rice, Carla Boyce and Georgie Rafferty all returned to the bench.
The hosts looked to impose their fluid possession game from the off, with United chasing the ball throughout much of the opening exchanges.
London Pollard’s darting run across the face of goal allowed her to skip past her opponent with ease before shifting the ball onto her stronger left foot, but the forwards off-balance attempt failed to trouble Fiona McNicoll.
Moments later, Motherwell were denied what looked like a certain penalty kick after Pollard was hauled down under the challenge of Jade McLaren, but the referee quickly waived play on despite the adamant pleas of the Motherwell players.
The hosts continued to threaten and deservedly netted the opener soon after. McDonald-Nguah was left unchallenged 20-yards from goal, and the strikers curling effort sailed beyond the reach of McNicoll before nestling comfortably into the top-left corner.
Motherwell continued to force the visitors to play with their own half, and moments later they had their second of the afternoon. Using her experience, Inglis skilfully drifted from her marker before latching onto Lucy Ronald’s through ball, and the midfielder replicated her teammates opener, dispatching her strike into the top-left corner.
As the second half resumed, United pulled one back. Motherwell failed to clear Cassie Cowper’s low corner kick, and McLaren’s through ball was easily converted by Harkin from a few yards out.
With United chasing an equaliser, Motherwell were forced to deflect wave after wave of attacking threats in the latter stages of the second half. Harkin’s low effort evaded everyone in the box before shattering off the outside of the post in a nerve-racking moment for the women of steel.
Nevertheless, the hosts stood resolute in the final few minutes to earn a precious place in the quarter-finals of the Sky Sports Cup.
Paul Brownlie’s side now await their fate in the next round before returning to league action against Spartans in a fortnight’s time.
