Elgin City Women v Dyce Women

SWFL North, Gleaner Arena, Elgin

Sunday 19 January 2025

The cathedral city of Elgin was bathed in winter sunshine on a cold, crisp and sunny afternoon in Moray with both teams returning to league duty after the Christmas and New Year break being extended due to last weeks snow and ice.

Dyce’s starting line up was very youthful, with the average age of the 10 outfield players being under the age of 18 years and in 4 minutes they were caught out when a huge kick from the Elgin keeper was fatally allowed to bounce; and an Elgin striker ran in behind the Dyce defensive line to slot home. 3 minutes after that, Elgin got in behind again, however, Glennie in the Dyce goal saved thwarted the Elgin attacker.

In 9 minutes Dyce almost equalised with Macdonald volleying over from 8 yards after a corner for the away side. A superb block from Cameron in 12 minutes broke back to an Elgin striker who then hit the inside of the post leading to a scramble and a corner that came to nothing.

On the quarter hour though, from another corner on the Elgin left, they doubled their lead courtesy of a free header at the back post. And a few minutes later, with the Elgin forwards causing all sorts of problems, Dyce did well to avoid conceding in another goalmouth scramble.

Just after the half hour came Dyce’s best passage of play, where Evie Bereznaka laid it off to Marika Bereznaka who got in a shot. In 35 minutes and 37 minutes respectively, Elgin fired a free kick past the post and once again, Davidson saved a goalbound effort from an Elgin attacker.

Dyce kept plugging away and Gibson had a shot saved by the Elgin keeper at her left hand near post. Within a minute (40 mins) Elgin were denied again by Davidson who saved a one on one, the ball going out for a corner on the Elgin right. And Elgin were not to be denied (41 mins) as from the resultant corner they scored a similar headed goal to their 2nd one, to go in at the break 3-0 up.

HT - Elgin City Women 3-0 Dyce Women

In 47 mins, Evie Bereznaka fired a low cross within the Elgin 6 yard box, but alas, there were no takers in blue and white hoops to take advantage. 4 minutes later, Elgin forced a corner from which a shot hit the Dyce crossbar and went over.

Dyce were proving more than a match for the more experienced Elgin side in the 2nd half who were not getting the same opportunities to attack as they had in the 1st half. In 71 minutes Dyce forced a corner, but unbelievably, within around 20 seconds of taking it, Elgin broke and ruthlessly scored a 4th.

And in the 89th minute, Dyce suffered a cruel ending when they lost the ball in midfield and it was lashed home from outside the box for Elgin to go nap.

FINAL SCORE - Elgin City Women 5-0 Dyce Women

SUMMARY - Elgin City will be in the hunt for the league title come the end of the season and their fair and aggressive playing style, passing and ruthless finishing is a benchmark our new team will need to aspire to. And they will. Special mentions today for Zara Davidson in goals and Amber Cameron in central defence. And a final thank you and best wishes to Elgin City Women for their outstanding hospitality once again from all at Dyce.