Ross County Girls and Women seal two trophies in one weekend after triumphs in under-18s North League Cup and Highlands and Islands League
Ross County Girls and Women secured two trophies in two days this weekend.
Yesterday, the club’s under-18s travelled through to Inverurie to take on Westdyke in the North League Cup final.
County got off to a flying start, taking the lead inside 60 seconds through Agnes Hooper, who slotted home after a through ball from Maimie Zimmerman.
Not letting up after their early breakthrough, Katie Mackinnon would then score twice before hal time to put County in a strong position.
Orkney-based Abi Coltherd would score County’s fourth after the restart, before Hooper doubled her personal tally to make it five.
Westdyke pulled one back from distance, but County would put the icing on the cake courtesy of Mikayla Mackay before lifting the trophy.
That was only part one for the weekend though, as the club’s senior Highlands and Islands League side faced a potential title decider against Buckie in Dingwall this afternoon.
Going into the tie, each side knew that if they won, the 2024 title would be theirs, but a draw could also open the door for Sutherland to leapfrog both teams if they could beat Caithness.
Sutherland did their job, winning 6-1, but it was in vain as County picked up a 1-0 victory at the Highland Football Academy to seal the crown.
In a closely-fought battle where both sides created chances, Reese Flaws was the difference make for County.
Coltherd did really well on the left wing to get past her marker before swinging a pinpoint cross into the middle, where Flaws was waiting to finish.
Defender Teagan Syrjanen was involved in both games – making her Highlands and Islands League debut after turning 15, the minimum age for players in the league – and says it was a great moment for the club to win silverware in their first year with a senior side.
“It felt really good (to win the league), especially in my first game,” she said.
“Buckie were a really good team. They did well, but we played around them.
“I think it’s really special for the club, because we’re able to see that we can achieve stuff. To do that in our first year, it’s really good.
“I reckon we’ll go on to move up the leagues in the pyramid, and I think we can get to the top with this team.”
On a personal note, Syrjanen looked composed on her way to helping County to a clean sheet on debut, and she says there is a very positive feeling among the group.
“I’d quite like to just keep progressing,” Syrjanen added.
“The club is doing really well, and the team is playing good football.
“There’s a good feeling around the club. Everyone just wants to play football and win, but we all get along as a team really well too.
“We’ve played together for quite a while, so that helps. It’s a good mix of people to be around.”
