Motherwell coasted into the post-split with the momentum after securing a hard-fought but deserving three points in a successive league victory over Spartans at Ainslie Park on Sunday.
Jo Addie got the women of steel off the mark inside the opening 10-minutes, drilling a low effort through the Spartans goalkeeper. Motherwell continued to control proceedings until Mya Bates stunned the visitors with an early second-half equaliser against the run of play.
Midfielder Louisa Boyes marked her return to the starting XI in style, restoring the advantage for Paul Brownlie’s side shortly before the hour mark. Morgan Cross prodded home a third from close-range in the latter stages of the game before Boyes secured her brace and Motherwell’s fourth in an exceptional display in the Scottish Capital.
Head Coach Paul Brownlie made four changes from the hard-fought defeat to defending champions Glasgow City over a fortnight ago. Goalkeeper Emily Mutch returned in goal, with Jo Addie, Sarah Gibb and Louisa Boyes all returning to the starting XI.
Looking to head into the post-split campaign on a high, Motherwell started firmly on the front foot, with Rangers loanee Laura Berry causing the hosts problems only moments into the game. The forward accurately read the opponents predictable through ball, making a comfortable interception beyond the halfway-line before driving towards of the edge of the Spartans penalty area, but the strikers powerful attempt arrowed agonisingly over the crossbar.
The visitors early momentum persisted, with the breakthrough materialising shortly after. Kayla Jardine’s floated corner kick sailed invitingly across the six-yard-box, ricocheting through several players before falling kindly to Addie 10-yards from goal, and the defender drilled a low effort through the legs of the Spartans stopper.
Motherwell were gifted the opportunity to double their advantage midway through the first-half, with Morgan Cross utilising her pace to escape her marker before being hauled down within the box. Bailley Collins stepped up, but reminiscent of her attempt in Meadowbank, the defenders low strike rattled the post. Despite converting the rebound, the referee quickly ruled the goal out for offside.
Motherwell’s control in the contest was soon undermined moments into the second half, with the hosts netting an equaliser against the run of play. Rebecca Galbraith’s pinpoint attempt struck the right-hand post, with Caley Gibb’s rebounded effort brilliantly parried clear by Mutch, but Bates reacted imminently to prod home a header from close-range.
Un-wavered by the motivation of the Spartans squad, Motherwell stuck to their gameplan and their efforts were rewarded 10-minuites later. Jardine proved to be the provider again, coasting into the Spartans penalty area with ease before clipping a dangerous delivery across the face of goal, and Boyes calmly placed a low strike into the bottom-right corner.
The third soon followed, with Motherwell capitalising on the counter-attack. Gibb’s close-range effort was again denied by the reactive Mutch, with Motherwell instinctively launching the ball deep into the final third of the pitch. Berry skilfully worked her way to the byline before teeing up Jardine, who’s low strike fell fortunately into the path of Cross, who dispatched a third goal into the bottom-left-corner.
In the final moments of the game, Motherwell decisively wrapped dup the game with a clinical fourth. Cross turned provider, driving to the byline before chipping a dangerous delivery across the six-yard-box, with Boyes finding space at the front post to convert her second of the game.
