ANNA Signeul was able to celebrate her final home game as Scotland head coach with a win thanks to substitute Christie Murray’s late goal against the Republic of Ireland.
The game at Stark’s Park was preceded by presentations to a number of players to mark landmark appearances, the most notable being to goalkeeper and captain Gemma Fay ahead of her record breaking 200th appearance for Scotland. There was a large bouquet of flowers, too, for Signeul ahead of taking up a similar post with Finland after the Euros.
With four top players already ruled out of the Championship with bad injuries, the head coach decided not to take any chances with four more who are carrying knocks. Three — Rachel Corsie, Jo Love and Lisa Evans — would expect to be among the first on the team sheet for the opening game against England.
Ireland have kept clean sheets in five of the six matches under new head coach Colin Bell.The home side’s main threat came down the left from Hayley Lauder and Fiona Brown.
They both came close with shots while central defender Vaila Barsley threatened with headers from set-pieces. Chelsea teenager Erin Cuthbert, getting a rare start, came closest of all with a header five minutes from the interval.
Scotland made changes in the second half but it was Ireland who grew in threat and confidence. Prompted by former Glasgow City and now Houston Dash player Denise O’Sullivan, they came close early on through Megan Connolly and captain Louise Quinn.
Scotland had a chance to seal the game when substitute Lana Clelland set up Cuthbert, but her close range shot was blocked for a corner.
Clelland had already had a fierce shot blocked at the near post before Cuthbert whipped over the ammunition from the left and Murray got the goal which gave Signeul her winning send off.
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