It proved to be a frustrating afternoon in the outskirts of Glasgow, as Motherwell were comfortably dismantled by Glasgow City, who regained their footing in the title race.
City coasted to a formidable three-nil cushion at the break, with Japanese midfielder, Yucca Kurosaki breaking the deadlock after 17-minutes. Striker, Kelly Brady doubled the advantage shortly after, as youngster Ruby Seaby made it three shortly before the break.
Head Coach IaIn Robinson named a slightly reshaped starting XI following our previous league victory over Aberdeen.
Goalkeeper, Kayla Scott regained her place in the Motherwell goal, with Hibernian loanee Rowena Armitage unavailable through injury.
Shannon Leishman and Ellie MacDonald occupied either flank, with Tegan browning and skipper Chelsie Watson partnering in the centre of the backline. Leah Sidey, Lucy Ronald, Mary Stanic-Floody and Eva Thomson completed the midfield four, as Morgan Anderson and Carla Boyce led the line.
The hosts expectedly dominated possession from the outset, but Motherwell’s defensive shape limited City to few opportunities in the opening phase of the game.
Abi Harrison came closest with a hopeful strike from distance, but Scott reacted sharply to produce a comfortable stop.
Less than a minute later, City had the breakthrough. Harrison turning provider, teeing up former Bodo Glimt midfielder, Yucca Kurosaki, who drilled a magnificent right-footed strike across the turf before nestling comfortably into the bottom-left corner.
Four minutes later, City strengthened their advantage. Ruby Seaby teed up Brady, who escaped her marker in the centre of the box to prod home from close-range.
The third followed shortly after the half-hour mark. City countered with pace, leaving numbers short in the defensive third, with Seaby completely unmarked in the is-yard-box to tap home into the empty net.
As the second-half resumed, Robinson made numerous alterations as the match progressed. Returning from international duty, midfielder Saoirse Coyle-Morrow entered the pitch, with Olivia McStay, Lucy Sinclair, Sophie Rutherford and Louisa Boyes also receiving minutes.
However, with victory long-since confirmed for the hosts, both sides were forced to play out a second-half devoid of opportunities.
Motherwell must quickly dust themselves down, before facing Partick Thistle at the Bumblebee Stadium on Wednesday night.
