Boroughmuir Thistle rounded off Season 2024/25 in dramatic style with a late comeback victory over Gartcairn at Meadowbank Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The away side raced into the lead with two goals in two minutes shortly before half time as Thistle looked stunned.
Fiona Gibson got us back into it within 15 minutes of the second half restart, though, and Becky Galbraith looked to have snatched a point when she converted from the penalty spot in added time.
Thistle weren’t content with just a point, however, with Amy Forbes capping off an impressive comeback as she reacted first to head home a rebound deep into stoppage time.
A solid day’s entertainment for the Thistle faithful who - on the very last day of the season - finally got to see a Boroughmuir win over Gartcairn to complete our record of defeating every team in the league.
Boroughmuir started the match brightly, with Fiona Gibson flashing a dangerous ball across goal shortly before Holly Aitchison found the back of the net only to be called offside afterwards.
When Natalie Angelini was called into action in the Thistle goal she rose to the occasion, expertly tipping a dangerous shot over the crossbar.
Boroughmuir hit the post on 32 minutes following two quickfire corners before Gartcairn went up the other end and took the lead four minutes later. Forbes was unfortunate to see her header end up in the back of her own net.
Merely two minutes later it was two nil and looking to be one of those days for Thistle who had notoriously struggled against Gartcairn. Abbi McDonald found the bottom corner with a cool strike from the penalty spot.
Thistle came out the traps flying in the second half, though, with the ball seldom making it out of the Gartcairn defensive third. Lauren Hall was at the heart of the action as her cross narrowly evaded Galbraith just moments before she spun past the Gartcairn defender to find Aitchison whose ball to Galbraith was snuffed out at the last second.
The Thistle breakthrough finally came on 59 minutes when Aitchison laid the ball off for Gibson to smash home an unstoppable strike from the right side of the box.
A flurry of substitutions followed - including the introduction of 15-year-old Lucy Cameron for her first team debut - as Thistle looked to find an equaliser.
Beth Macleod came within inches of connecting with a Galbraith cross before Ria McCafferty’s long-range free kick skidded off the top of the crossbar.
All was not lost, though, as Thistle were awarded a penalty for a handball in the first minute of second half stoppage time. Up stepped Galbraith to expertly fire home into the top right corner for just her 22nd goal of the season.
And there was drama still to come as McCafferty struck another thunderous free kick which rattled the crossbar and fell perfectly for Forbes to head home between the goalkeeper’s legs and round off a spirited comeback.
A dramatic game to end a season full of ups and downs. While not quite achieving our initial aim of promotion, a third place finish along with quarter-final appearances in both cup competitions stand us in good stead looking ahead to next season.
All that remains to be said is a massive ‘thank you’ to each and every one of our supporters for their backing this season - it’s very much appreciated! See you in August…
Boroughmuir Thistle: Angelini, Lynch, Sheehan, Mason (C), Simmons, Forbes, Galbraith, Gibson, McCafferty, Aitchison, Hall
Subs: Macleod, Harkness, Cameron, Novoa-Torrente, Moodie
Gartcairn: Inman, McArthur, Wilson (C), Carter, Robb, McDonald, Maxwell, Jackson, McGowan, Simpson, Armstrong
Subs: Healy, Wilson, McGonigle, Brady, Anderson, Lawson
Referee: Konrad Spalony
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