Motherwell finalised their preparations for the new SWPL1 season with a commanding 6-1 victory over Gartcairn on Sunday.
Carla Boyce broke the deadlock in the opening minute before Lauren Doran-Barr netted seconds later.
Kaela McDonald-Nguah prodded home a third on the stroke of half-time to give Motherwell a strong advantage heading into the break. Goals from McDonald-Nguah, Georgie Rafferty and Amy Anderson followed to cement an excellent afternoon for the women of steel.
Motherwell started on the front foot and deservedly found the opener after only 40 seconds. Gill Inglis’ mistimed half-volley sailed invitingly into the path of Boyce who coolly converted at the back post.
Seconds after the restart, Motherwell doubled their advantage. Doran-Barr skipped past her opponent with ease on the right before accurately dispatching her effort into the top-left corner from an acute angle.
It was three on the stroke of half-time. Boyce skilfully cut inside from the left before chipping a delightful through ball to McDonald-Nguah who quietly escaped her marker to tap home from close-range.
Motherwell continued to threaten and almost found a fourth in the opening stages of the second half. Kodie Hay brilliantly worked her way into the box with two clever nutmegs before teeing up Boyce at the edge of the box, but the forwards strike failed to trouble the keeper.
Nevertheless, the women of steel’s attacking prowess shone through as they added a fourth early into the second half. McDonald-Nguah tried her luck from distance, and her deflected effort fell kindly to Inglis at the back post, who slotted the rebound into the bottom corner.
On 67 minutes, it was five. Georgie Rafferty was on hand to calmly divert Katie Rice’s floated corner kick into the bottom-left corner.
With the full-time whistle looming, Gartcairn netted a late consolation. Successfully anticipating the offside trap, Cattrell caught the Motherwell defence by surprise, and the forward’s powerful attempt sailed into the top corner.
A. Anderson got her name on the scoresheet in the dying stages with an emphatic strike from distance to round off a positive display from Paul Brownlie’s side