Leanne Ross’ Glasgow City will head to Ireland next week well on course to progress to the second qualifying round of the inaugural UEFA Women’s Europa Cup after a 3-0 win over Athlone Town tonight.
On a night where monsoon conditions made for a difficult surface, Leanne Ross’ succeeded in washing away their Irish counterparts as they planted a foot in the second round.
Athlone had gone into the game on the back of a fairly turbulent week with manager Colin Fortune resigning suddenly from the club with John Sullivan taking interim charge of the team at Petershill tonight.
It did not seem to deter Athlone from their task with the visitors causing a little consternation for City in the opening exchanges.
Kelly Brady was first to threaten as she forced a fingertip save from Lee Gibson after a slack passback from Amy Muir.
It was City, though, who took first blood with Athlone goalkeeper Megan Plaschko allowing Sofia Maatta’s ball across her box to slip out of her grasp with Anderson having the easiest of jobs to tap into the net.
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It was a timely first goal of the season for Anderson and settled any nerves in the City side.
As City looked to add to their lead and take a firm grip of the game, Linda Motlhalo came with an effort that was turned around the post by Plaschko.
With the Petershill side confident in their control it seemed inevitable that there would be further goals in their favour.
They got it ten minutes into the second period with a moment to forget for Shauna Brennan. The fullback was caught by Maatta again who nicked in to pinch the ball off her toe before then squaring for Motlhalo. There was no mistake this time from the midfielder as she buried her effort firmly beyond the reach of Plaschko.
A third quickly followed with Forrest getting her name on the scoresheet on the cusp of the hour mark.
Athlone stuck to their task and caused a few issues in the City defence but they were unable to capitalise on such moments, much to the relief of the Petershill side.
It gives City a solid result to take into the second leg as they look at another Europa Cup tie and the potential of a place in the group stages of the competition.
