Match report: Kilmarnock 0-4 Hamilton (Women)

Starting the day there was a five-point gap between the SWPL2 leaders Hamilton and Kilmarnock before their highly anticipated top of the table clash at Rugby Park, report by David McLaughlin.

The visitors started the brighter of two teams dominating the early stages of the game, the early pressure was strong and in the 5th minute Hamilton took the lead after a rather scrappy exchange in the six-yard box which was converted from close range to give the away team the lead early on.

Following the goal the Hamilton dominance continued, the way that they pressed Kilmarnock did not allow Jim Chapman’s side to gain a foothold in game often with Hamilton winning the ball back in midfield.

On 19 minutes it was 2-0 to the away side as a ball was played down the left-hand side and was cut back from the byline and slotted in at Holly Kerrigan’s near post to give Hamilton breathing space.

Shortly after it got better for the visitors as 10 minutes from the break it was 3-0. Kilmarnock now had a mountain to climb if they were to salvage anything on this occasion.

To add insult to injury, Kilmarnock starlet Lucie Burns was stretchered off one minute from the half-time whistle following a hard tackle from the Hamilton defender. Lauryn Reside came on to replace 17-year-old Burns who was later taken to hospital following the incident.

There was plenty to ponder for the Kilmarnock boss at the break and he quickly displayed his intent to try and claw a way back into the game, making two changes at half-time bringing on Dionne Brown and Georgia McTear.

Kilmarnock started the second 45 with a more attacking approach as captain Abby Robinson went close but, in the end, firing the shot too close to the keeper.

Hamilton then re-gained control as they won a corner and swiftly goal number four came with the cross deep in to the back post, easily nodded in from four yards out to take the game away from Kilmarnock. The leaders then continued to control and take the sting out of the game as Kilmarnock’s attacks did not come to any fruition in the last half an hour.

Speaking to Killie TV after the defeat manager Jim Chapman said “it was a humbling experience”.

The next game for Kilmarnock is away at Boroughmuir Thistle on the 17th of November before returning to Rugby Park to face St Johnstone on the 24th of November.