Scotland international speaks of pride scoring on historic day for Ross County
KEIRA Syrjanen says Ross County are proud of how they performed against Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic in the Scottish Cup second round.
A record crowd for a women’s game in Dingwall watched them play their first ever match at the Global Energy Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
An estimated crowd of 650 witnessed a five-goal thriller as Bonnyrigg Rose edged the Staggies 3-2.
Bonnyrigg Rose are in second place in SWFL League One, a league above Ross County who are making their debut in SWFL North.
Dingwall Academy pupil Syrjanen said they showed Ross County could take on higher level opposition and produced a performance that everyone was proud of.
She said: “It was a really good game and really tight. The opposition had a lot of good players. It was a good experience and obviously with them playing in a higher league it is what we expected.
“We knew that they were going to be tough opposition and were going to have good physical players. We prepared ourselves for that which we did and I thought we did really well considering they are a league above us.
“Some of their players in the middle have a really good shot and we had to watch that the whole time and prepare for everything.”
She scored a spectacular volley to level the game and marked her goal with an even more spectacular cartwheel.
She said it was one of the best goals she had scored in her career and felt it was only right she produced a celebration worthy of it.
“It was probably one of the best goals I have scored, it was really good.
“I definitely had been practising my celebration all week, that was a good moment.
“I knew where I was going and what I was going to do.
“I do like a celebration and will keep it in the back of my mind for the next few games.”
It was estimated around 650 fans were at the Global Energy Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Syrjanen says it meant everything to the squad to have so many fans cheering them on.
She said: “It was amazing to have the home crowd behind us and have them cheering us it was so good. It is something I hope we can do more often. It was really good.
“To have them cheering you the whole time was amazing, it was good for morale and a good boost.”
Syrjanen has been labelled as one of the top prospects in Scottish women’s football.
She says she was proud to represent her country and hopes to play for Scotland again in the future.
She said: “It was unbelievable when I heard I was in the squad, I was shocked. To go away with the girls who are all so nice off the pitch too, it was great.
“I met Leanne Crighton who was amazing as she was a centre midfielder like me. It was great to have her help me with my positioning and where to be and in general she was great to have there.
“I learned how to move the ball quicker which will help me more playing against more tougher physical opponents.”
Read: Don Cowie proud Ross County continued their undefeated streak.
