Ross County Women beat Aberdeen in Maryburgh in first home game since stepping into Scottish Women’s Football pyramid
Ross County’s senior women’s team played their first home match since stepping into the Scottish Women’s Football pyramid last weekend, defeating Aberdeen in the League Cup group stage.
Hosted at Maryburgh due to the lack of availability of the Highland Football Academy in Dingwall or their pitch in Alness, County were missing a handful of regular players but still managed to prevail.
Beth MacDonald scored County’s first goal, but while Aberdeen also found the back of the net it was the hosts who were in the ascendancy.
MacDonald was inches away from scoring again when she hit the post, but instead it was Keira Syrjanen who took the game by the scruff of the neck, scoring a hat-trick to go into half time with a 4-1 lead.
A change in formation from Aberdeen at the break caused more problems for County’s players, and the Dons got back into the match.
Aberdeen would score three times after the restart, but quick replies after two of the goals from Syrjanen and the debuting Lorca Macleod kept them at bay and ensured the points would stay in Ross-shire.
With results elsewhere, qualification for the next round remains in County’s hands even after their opening day draw at Huntly, and captain Laura Cameron says they will only get better as they play more matches.
“I don’t think we ever felt like we were going to lose the game, but there was some disappointment at our own second half performance,” she said.
“We probably underestimated them after the first half and then sloppy mistakes crept into our own game. Credit to Aberdeen, they worked hard and didn’t give up and deserved their goals second half.
“I think when we reflect later in the week at training we will definitely be able to take positives from the first half. The second half we need to put behind us, we know we are better than that but can still pick out a few things to improve on.”
On the impact of 16-year-old Syrjanen, Cameron continued: “She’s unplayable at times! She’s so comfortable on either foot, so as a defender there is no good way to deal with her.
“Keira’s a very talented girl, it’s going to be great to see her progress and we are lucky to have her in the squad.”
After being very successful in youth football, there may be something of an adjustment period for County to get used to senior football, and Cameron – one of the players in the squad who does have previous senior experience – believes some of the younger members of the squad are noticing a difference already.
“The biggest thing I would say is we are getting a lot less time on the ball,” she added.
“At the back we are playing against faster more physical players than we have been used to, but I think we can cope with that.
“That’s no disrespect to the Highlands and Islands teams we’ve played, as I think on their day the likes of Buckie and Sutherland would compete at this level as well.
“Games like Aberdeen are essential, even if they’re not enjoyable at the time!
“There are so many things we have to work on as group if we are serious about competing in this league, but when as a team you are used to winning games comfortably complacency can sometimes slip in.
“Games like these are a reminder that we need to be on our game for a whole 90 mins at this level.”
