Match Report

After a week off, our women’s team returned to SWFL Central-West action at The Rock sponsored by Marbill Coaches as they welcomed Linlithgow Rose to Dumbarton.

Manager Kenny McInnes handed new signing Aimee Duffy her debut from the start, while Islay Lavery, sister of Skye, was named among the substitutes as the second goalkeeper.

The Sons went into the match with three points from their opening two games, while Rose had played just once, losing 6-2 at home to Cumbernauld Colts on September 27.

The visitors got us underway and had the first chance inside the opening seconds, with Murphy curling an effort from outside the box narrowly over Kira Swallow’s crossbar.

The biggest opportunity of the opening period fell to Honeyford, who was left unmarked inside the six-yard box but headed over.

Swallow was then called into action again, producing an excellent save to deny McEwan. The Sons goalkeeper got down sharply to her bottom right to palm a goal-bound drive onto the post.

Dumbarton had chances of their own, including a dangerous free-kick from Gemma Smith, but neither side could break the deadlock before the interval.

The second half descended into chaos early on when Swallow was shown a red card for handling a header back from Ellie Vernal outside her box.

Lavery was introduced for her debut and was immediately called upon to face a Rose free-kick.

Unfortunately for the Sons, Linlithgow skipper McEwan made no mistake, firing the ball into the corner to give the visitors the lead and leave the depleted hosts with a mountain to climb.

Rose took advantage of the extra player, with Souter and Stoddart adding quick-fire goals to put the visitors firmly in control.

Lavery would go on to produce several excellent saves and demonstrate impressive handling on her debut, providing plenty of confidence-boosting moments ahead of next Sunday’s meeting with Murieston United, which she should now expect to start.

Smith and captain Mirren Esdale both went close for McInnes’ side but were unable to beat Tomczyinski, who left The Rock with a clean sheet.

McLure then added a late double for the visitors, scoring with two dipping efforts from long range to complete the victory for Linlithgow Rose.

Dumbarton Women 0

Red card: 52′ Kira Swallow

Linlithgow Rose Ladies 5

53′ Lucy McEwan, 56′ Hannah Souter, 57′ Ellie Stoddart, 82′, 87′ Emma McLure

Referee: Stephen Allan

View all the results and table from SWFL Central-West