Boroughmuir Thistle bowed out of the Sky Sports Cup on Sunday afternoon following defeat to Aberdeen at the quarter final stage.
Despite taking an early lead at Meadowbank via Emily Arthur’s wonder goal, Thistle couldn’t quite hang on as the Dons fought back to eventually win 3-1.
Hannah Stewart equalised from the penalty spot for the away side shortly before half time, and Darcie Miller put Aberdeen in front for the first time on 47 minutes.
The SWPL 1 side’s comeback was complete 14 minutes from time when Niamh Noble found the net directly from a corner and booked her team’s place in the semi finals.
Thistle came into this - their third match in the space of seven days - off the back of two successive 1-0 victories and with a spring in their step following a recent resurgence in form.
And the home side got off to the perfect start when Arthur latched onto Louise Mason’s ball in behind and lobbed the Aberdeen goalkeeper with a right-footed effort into the far corner.
The early goal gave Thistle confidence as they enjoyed much of the first half possession and looked relatively comfortable against opposition from the division above.
A couple of balls in behind caused the Aberdeen defence issues as they struggled to deal with Cara Borthwick’s pace down the right-hand-side, though clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities were at a premium.
For their part, Aberdeen looked fairly dangerous on the attack but the Thistle defence were comfortable in dealing with the danger and limiting the Dons to long-range efforts. Hannah Innes shot over the bar before Holly McEvoy’s effort sailed wide.
However, on 35 minutes the away side equalised from the penalty spot via Stewart. Miller went down under what looked like an incredibly soft challenge by Beth Macleod and the captain sent Toni Harkness the wrong way to stroke the ball home.
Just two minutes after the restart for the second half, Aberdeen took the lead for the first time in the tie. Francesca Ogilvie broke down the right-hand-side and sent in a perfect cross for the unmarked Miller to head high beyond Harkness in the Boroughmuir goal.
As the rock-splitting sunshine made way for mist and rain, Aberdeen began to control large parts of the game. Without necessarily producing much in the way of gilt-edged chances, they looked comfortable and limited Thistle to only the odd foray forward.
Then on 76 minutes, Noble capped off her team’s comeback and scored directly from a corner as she watched her delivery sail over Harkness and nestle into the net - the second such goal Boroughmuir have conceded already this season.
The ‘game of two halves’ cliche would be an appropriate summation of this one as Boroughmuir looked very comfortable until Aberdeen were awarded a penalty, but then couldn’t quite find that magic spark as they chased the game.
Andy Enwood spoke post-match of his frustration at the manner in which Aberdeen’s goals came about via individual errors or avoidable mistakes, but also took pride that his side were never properly opened up by the SWPL 1 side who progress to the semi finals of the Sky Sports Cup.
Up next for Boroughmuir is the visit of Kilmarnock to Meadowbank Stadium next Sunday in SWPL 2. Kick-off in that one is 1pm.
Boroughmuir Thistle: Harkness, Macleod, Forbes, McCafferty, Gibson, Parrish (Hall 46’), Lynch, Michie, Borthwick (Orr-Love 69’), Mason (C) (Forsyth 69’), Arthur (Simmons 69’)
Subs: Angelini, Aitchison, Brady, Forsyth, Hall, Moore, Orr-Love, Sheehan, Simmons
Aberdeen FC Women: Sidey, Ogilvie, Black, Jameison, Noble, McEvoy (Murray 72’), Gover, Innes (Bruce 72’), Miller (Thomson 72’), Kraft, Stewart (C)
Subs: McCann, Bruce, Edwards, Elder, Fraser, Maclean, MacPherson, Murray, Thomson
Referee: Terry Ormiston
Attendance: 169
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