Thistle progress to next round of Sky Sports Cup

Boroughmuir Thistle progressed to the second round of the Sky Sports Cup after victory over Rossvale Women at Meadowbank on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors opened the scoring directly from a corner via Megan Whiteford before Holly Aitchison converted a penalty to get Boroughmuir off the mark.

Becky Galbraith then scored two before half time and Cailin Michie rounded off a successful afternoon when she bagged Thistle’s fourth 14 minutes from time.

The result means Boroughmuir will now face Livingston in the next round, with the tie taking place at Meadowbank on the 29th of September.

Boroughmuir came into this one off the back of two consecutive league defeats and knew that a big performance was needed to progress in the first of two cup competitions.

Head Coach Andy Enwood had lambasted the giving away of cheap goals in recent weeks, and it looked as though we might have been in for a similar story once again when Whiteford’s 8th minute corner somehow found its way into the back of the net via the far post.

However, Thistle responded well and were level a mere four minutes later. Leni Parrish’s shot deflected into the path of Galbraith but the striker was brought down by the Rossvale defender before she could aim for goal and the referee pointed to the spot. Aitchison stepped up and calmly placed the ball low into the back of Chloe Gibney’s net.

Five minutes later, Galbraith bagged her first goal when she reacted quickest to a loose ball, rounded the Rossvale goalkeeper, and slotted home - with the goal eventually given after the referee appeared to overrule his linesman who had flagged for an infringement.

Now in front, Boroughmuir looked in relative control of proceedings and carved out a few half-chances for themselves. Parrish’s powerful effort from inside the box was well blocked following good work down the right by Cara Borthwick, and Ria McCafferty forced the Rossvale ‘keeper into a low, diving save with a strike from distance.

Then, on the stroke of half time, Galbraith scored her second when she picked up a pin-point long-range McCafferty through ball, drove into the box, and fired low beyond Gibney.

Clear-cut chances were slightly harder to come by in the second period, with Thistle already in command and Rossvale offering little up front.

Toni Harkness was called into action on 63 minutes when she saved well from the Rossvale attacker from inside the box, and substitute Robin Gallagher was thwarted by Rossvale ‘keeper Gibney who rushed out to clear during a 1v1.

With 14 minutes remaining, Boroughmuir’s place in the next round of the Sky Sports Cup was confirmed. Another excellent long ball by McCafferty was lifted over the Rossvale goalkeeper and into the back of the net by Michie who had burst through the visitors’ defence from midfield.

Rossvale did threaten the Thistle goal once more when a long-range strike forced Harkness into a fine save to tip the ball onto the crossbar, however Boroughmuir were deserving of their comfortable win in the end.

Boroughmuir will now face Livingston - who defeated Ayr United by seven goals to three - in the second round of the Cup, with the game taking place at Meadowbank later in the month.

Up next, though, is a trip along the M8 to Kirkintilloch Community Sports Complex where Rossvale and Boroughmuir will do it all again, this time in the league. Kick-off next Sunday is at 3pm.

Boroughmuir Thistle: Harkness, Armstrong, Mason (C) (Brady 46’), Michie, Novoa-Torrente, Galbraith (Macleod 78’), Gibson, McCafferty, Borthwick (Gallagher 68’), Aitchison (Forsyth 68’), Parrish (Simmons 68’)

Subs: Angelini, Gallagher, Macleod, Simmons, Forsyth, Forbes, Brady, Hinchcliffe

Rossvale: Gibney, McGarvey, Jackson (C), McGurk, Martin, Coleman, Whiteford, Allan, McQuillan, Crooks, Fargie

Subs: Rhind, Davies, Shanks, Newman, Macleod, Cullie, Foulds

Referee: Robert Bowie

Goal highlights

Post-match reaction