Motherwell secured a dramatic late victory after defeating Aberdeen 3-2 with the final kick of the game in a gripping season-finale at Park Alliance Park.
Gill Inglis fired Motherwell ahead with a precise finish before Francesca Ogilvie levelled the game minutes from half time. Ogilvie netted her second of the afternoon to put Aberdeen in the ascendency before Jemma Hughes restored the scoreline minutes from full time.
As the final whistle approached, Kaela McDonald-Nguah’s strike from distance nestled comfortably into the top right corner to secure maximum points for the hosts.
Following last weekend’s narrow 1-0 victory over Hearts, Paul Brownlie made two changes from the previous outing, with Jordan McLintock and Jemma Hughes replacing McDonald-Nguah and London Pollard who both dropped to the bench.
Looking to secure their season-long ambition of a top-six finish, Motherwell made a positive start, limiting the visitors to their own half.
Chelsie Watson’s accurate long ball caught the high Aberdeen defensive line off guard, leaving Carla Boyce to race through on goal, but the strikers drilled effort was superbly parried round the post by the keeper.
Motherwell continued to flood the Aberdeen penalty area and eventually found the breakthrough after 12 minutes. Inglis skilfully worked her way into the box with a clever nutmeg before curling a composed finish into the bottom left corner.
The women of steel continued to pile on the pressure and were convinced they should’ve been awarded a penalty after Inglis was hauled down deep into the Aberdeen penalty area, but the referee quickly waived play on, much to the bewilderment of the Motherwell technical area.
Despite a dominant first half display, Aberdeen found the equaliser on the stroke of half time.
Kelly Forrest’s direct through ball caught the Motherwell defence scrambling, and Ogilvie took full advantage as she coolly slotted her strike into the bottom left corner.
With the final 10 minutes remaining, Aberdeen took the lead, with Ogilvie netting her second of the game. Finding space on the left, the striker cut inside with relative ease before picking out the far corner from an acute angle.
With the women of steel chasing the game in the final few minutes, Katie Rice’s free kick sailed invitingly into the path of Hughes yards from goal, and the strikers audacious effort floated beyond the reach of the keeper to bring Motherwell level.
As the full-time whistle approached, McDonald-Nguah drilled a sensational effort from distance into the top-right corner to secure all three points in a dramatic season-finale.
A fitting finish to what has been a transformational debut season under Paul Brownlie. The women of steel’ will return to competitive action in July.
