SWPL2: Forfar Farmington 5 Motherwell 3

Forfar Farmington continued their good start to the season with a 5-3 win over Motherwell, however they were given a late scare with all three Well goals coming in the last ten minutes.

A double from Cheryl Kilcoyne along with Nicola Davidson’s penalty, Robyn Smith’s close range finish and Megan McCarthy’s fantastic lob had the side coasting before Nicole Goodwin, Pamela Liddell and Stacey Cook made the scoreline look slightly less impressive for Forfar.

Two changes were made from March’s win away to Jeanfield as Erin Cattanach and Beth Shillitto dropped out of the starting XI to be replaced by Kirsty Deans and Julia Scott. U17 player Taylor Clifford was also named on the bench as she hoped to make her senior debut at just fifteen.

Farmington started off well and forced four corners in the first six minutes; those set pieces allowing Kirsty Deans chances to open the scoring however she volleyed over before her next effort was deflected wide.

Sophie Gallacher sent Motherwell’s first shot across the face of Fiona McNicoll’s goal however in the 19th minute it was Forfar who took the lead.

Some smart link up play down the left ended with Robyn Smith laying the ball off for Cheryl Kilcoyne to curl home past Lauren McGregor.

Seven minutes later it was two; a McCarthy cross was handled in the box and captain Nicola Davidson stepped up to slot the spot kick home.

The visitors came out for the second half looking better than they had fared in the first half with sub Nicole Goodwin and Dionne Brown testing McNicoll.

Kilcoyne and Deans saw efforts go narrowly wide meanwhile Laura Parsley’s overhead kick was cleared off the line shortly after the hour mark with McGregor beaten.

With twenty minutes remaining the lead was extended when Kilcoyne sent Smith sprinting clear and despite her first shot being parried, she gleefully knocked home the loose ball.

It was two goals in two minutes for Farmington as Kayleigh Noble forced her way down the left flank before cutting a low ball across goal for Kilcoyne to bundle past McGregor.

Liddell hit the bar for Well however Forfar added a fifth with ten minutes to go; McCarthy lobbing McGregor from 25 yards in a priceless moment for the defender not known for her goalscoring abilities.

Despite the comfortable lead Farmington allowed Motherwell to make it difficult for them with three goals inside the last eight minutes. Goodwin netted the first while Liddell and Cook made the score look respectable for the Steelwomen.

The win keeps Forfar at the top of SWPL2 with a fortnight break before their next game away to Glasgow Girls.

Forfar Farmington: Fiona McNicoll (Hannah Dryden 78), Gemma Collier, Leah White, Laura Parsley (Beth Shillitto 71), Robyn Smith, Nicola Davidson, Kirsty Deans, Cheryl Kilcoyne (Taylor Clifford 86), Megan McCarthy, Julia Scott (Kayleigh Noble 66), Alison Debio (Zoe Moreland 75)

Subs not used: Alana Bruce, Erin Ross

Motherwell: Lauren McGregor, Niamh Johnston, Stacey Cook, Heather Magill, Kayleigh Docherty, Suzanne Grant, Dionne Brown, Amy Bulloch, Natasha Roberts, Sophie Gallacher, Pamela Liddell

Subs used: Sara McWhirter, Nicole Goodwin, Lauren Whitehead