Fantastic four for Thistle in Stirling

Boroughmuir Thistle returned to winning ways in SWPL 2 for the first time since February with an important 4-0 victory away at Stirling University on Wednesday evening.

Holly Aitchison opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 16 minutes before two wonder strikes from Mhari Smith and Ria McCafferty sent Thistle into the break with a healthy lead.

Stirling grew into the game in the second half but Jayden Simmons’ cool finish 20 minutes from time ensured that a crucial three points made their way back to Meadowbank.

The win means that Thistle remain in fourth place, four points above St Johnstone and six behind Livingston with just three games to go.

A lovely early-summer’s evening at the Stirling University Sports Ground proved the perfect conditions for football as Thistle got off to an excellent start, seldom allowing the hosts to get out of their own half.

Within 16 minutes Thistle were rewarded for their near-constant pressure when Maria Novoa-Torrente collided with Stirling ‘keeper Regan Ott and Holly Aitchison slotted the resulting penalty into the bottom right corner to bag her second spot kick goal in as many games.

Making her first league start, Jennifer Brown then went agonisingly close to doubling the away side’s lead as she watched her close-range effort land the wrong side of the crossbar.

On 30 minutes, though, the second goal came when Mhari Smith’s right-footed pearler soared into the top right corner from around 25 yards out, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Then just before half time it was 3-0 when the ball broke to Ria McCafferty on the right side of the box and she expertly struck across goal into the top left corner. Two excellent goals and a no-less-than-deserved three goal advantage heading into the break.

Half Time: Stirling University 0-3 Boroughmuir Thistle

A change of shape meant Stirling began to lay a glove on Thistle in the second half, with Beth Rennie called into action for the first time when she dived low to parry Emily Gray’s long-range effort.

Thistle couldn’t quite get going as they did in the first half, with Stirling enjoying a lot of the ball though not causing the defence too many issues.

However, Boroughmuir kept at it and put the win beyond any slither of doubt when super sub Jayden Simmons raced through the middle of the Stirling defence to latch onto Rennie’s drop kick and fire a composed effort beyond Ott.

The fourth goal knocked the wind out of Stirling’s sails and Boroughmuir ramped up the pressure once more with 15 minutes remaining. It could very well have finished 5-0 but for a combination of the goalkeeper and post somehow thwarting Lauren Hall from inside the box.

Thankfully there was no last-minute heartbreak this week as Thistle secured a crucial three points and their first win since mid-March. Our attention now quickly turns to Sunday afternoon when fifth-placed St Johnstone visit Meadowbank at 2pm, with Boroughmuir looking to kick on and finish the season on a high.

Full Time: Stirling University 0-4 Boroughmuir Thistle

Stirling University: Ott, Reid (Varnava 64’), Ferguson (Cunningham 86’), Watson, McMillan (Armstrong 81’), Gray, Jackman (C), Hollywood, Ovens, Somerville (Davidson 64’), McGorm (Fairgrieve 45’)

Subs: Garrad, Davidson, Cunningham, Armstrong, Fairgrieve, Hodgson, Palmer, Varnava

Boroughmuir Thistle: Rennie, Gibson, Sheehan, Verbist, Ramage (C), McCafferty (Hall 75’), Aitchison, Novoa-Torrente (Murphy 75’), Smith (Arthur 64’), Forsyth (Simmons 64’), Brown (Macleod 64’)

Subs: Macleod, Murphy, Hinchcliffe, Goodchild, Arthur, Hall, Simmons

Referee: Scott Bunting

Post-Match Reaction