League Cup Winners Again!

Jo Love and hotshot Linda Brown score the cup winning goals.

FC Kilmarnock 2 - 0 Glasgow City LFC
(Scottish Womens' League Cup Final - 4th May 2003, 2.00pm Kick Off)

On Sunday 4th May FC Kilmarnock took on Glasgow City LFC in the Scottish League Cup final at Shotts Bonaccord. With the champions eager to regain the treble in similar style to last season, Sunday was to be the first real step towards defending there first silverware of the season.

With the wind determined to play a major role in this game, it was always going to prove tough for Killie to get the ball down and play their usual attractive style - in fact the weather was to have a major impact on the game.

City started the game well as the Ayrshire team struggled to get to grips with the blustery conditions and overshot many of their passes. City had a few dangerous moments and looked to trouble the Killie defence from a few early corner kicks which were scrambled away. They also had a breakaway chance in 18th minute which caused Killie keeper Johnstone to pull of a great fingertip save to keep the game level.

Killie however began to make better use of the ball and with an excellent counter attack took the lead in 27 minutes. A clever ball wide from defence played in Bev McLaughlin who hit the bye line to put over a front post cross which was met on the volley by Brown. The ball smashed off the post but Brown was the first to react and laid the ball wide again for Bev McLaughlin to hit a first time cross which was met by the head of advancing Jo Love to direct the ball into the left corner of the net.

Killie were more relieved to have broken the deadlock and for the remaining minutes of the first half they certainly looked the better team although the conditions remained difficult. The second half proved to be a battle but with Killie playing smarter against the wind they began to look like adding to their lead. A penetrating run from midfielder Love brought out a great save from the City keeper and an excellent opportunity for McLaughlin to get on the score sheet was wasted as she was just seconds too late.

The introduction of Sarah Hough proved too much for the City players as her pace caused them countless problems towards the end of the second half. In fact the second goal came from a positive run from the young striker when she beat two defenders to square the ball to Linda Brown to coolly slot home to kill off the Glasgow sides hopes.

Killie Coach Jim Chapman said: "I'm proud of his players for the work rate and team effort in a game that was unfortunately dictated heavily by the blustery conditions. But that extra piece of quality was the difference that mattered on the day".

FC Killie play at home to Inver-Ross on Sunday 11th at Hurlford Junior's Blair Park, 2.00pm kick off.

FC Kilmarnock: Johnstone, Kerr, Burns, Fowler, Sneddon, Smith, Hind, McLaughlin, Love (Cheyne 65), Brown, Hamill (Hough 60).

Match Report courtesy of Angie Hind