Motherwell headed into the new year on a positive note, as the women of steel cruised past Dundee United to end their six-game winless spell at a windswept Foundation Park on Sunday.
Jo Addie converted the only goal in a promising afternoon for Paul Brownlie’s side, with the defender latching onto Sarah Gibb’s pinpoint delivery for her second goal of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.
Head Coach, Paul Brownlie made two changes from the defeat to league leaders Rangers last weekend, with Kaela McDonald-Nguah and Carla Boyce returning to the starting XI, as summer acquisition Morgan Cross secured a place on the bench following a three-month spell on the sidelines.
Keen to replicate their dominant display over the Tangerines at K-Park in October, Motherwell started firmly on the front foot, with the visitors attacking setup forcing United into trading possession deep into their own territory.
The breakthrough almost came in the opening few minutes. Addie pickpocketed her opponent on the right flank, before chipping a dangerous delivery across the face of goal, as Boyce connected at the back post, but the strikers attempt failed to trouble the United stopper.
Moments later, Gibb’s first corner kick of the afternoon, floated precisely into the centre of the six-yard box, with Chelsie Watson’s initial attempt ricocheting off of the crossbar before falling to the feet of Louisa Boyes, who was denied on the rebound.
Less than a minute later, Watson was again denied by the woodwork. The referee adjudged a handball at the edge of the penalty area following a Bailley Collins strike, and from the resulting free-kick, Watson’s curling right-footed attempt rattled the near post.
As the half-time whistle neared, and Motherwell’s attacking frustrations continued to mount, the breakthrough finally emerged.
Gibb’s threatening delivery from the left continued to cause the hosts problems, with Addie rising highest above the United backline, to prod home at the back post.
Forward Morgan Cross returned to competitive action in the second half, and immediately impressed with her quick turn of pace. The winger teed-up teammate Bailley Collins after a driving run on the right, but Collins’ drilled effort connected with the crossbar for the third time of the afternoon.
United tried to rally late on, but the women of steel stood resolute to record a vital result, that narrows the gap to the top-six, ahead of a three-week hiatus over the festive period. Brownlie’s side will return to action in the first week of January, with a short-trip to Petershill Park to face Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup.
