By Craig Edwards
Glasgow City control their own destiny in next weekend’s final SWPL game of the season after Priscila Chinchilla’s match winning strike four minutes from time against Partick Thistle.
Lauren Davidson gave City the lead shortly before half time before Rebecca McGowan equalised for the visitors. Chinchilla got the late winner with a curling finish into the far corner in the 86th minute.
Leanne Ross made six changes from the side that faced Celtic in midweek with Erin Clachers, Chloe Warrington, Mairead Fulton, Megan Foley, Lisa Forrest and Sophia Martin all coming in to the starting eleven.
The visitors started well with Clare Docherty firing a volley over the crossbar within the first 60 seconds before City threatened through Davidson and Chinchilla both forcing saves from Megan Cunningham.
Partick Thistle looked dangerous on the counter attack and Rachel Donaldson got an effort away but good pressure from Foley made it a routine save for Clachers before Jordan McLintock’s goalbound header was cleared.
As the first half wore on, City started to threaten more with a couple of Davidson crosses creating opportunities. The first one saw Leah Robinson’s clearance go just wide of her own far post before Martin couldn’t keep her effort on target.
The opening goal came from Davidson shortly before the break. A good challenge from Claire Walsh won City the ball back on the halfway line and Chinchilla passed the ball to Davidson who drove at the Partick Thistle defence before firing the ball low across goal and into the back of the net.
City started the second half well with a succession of corners creating chances but Foley and Martin were unable to keep their efforts down. On the hour mark, the missed chances would come back to hurt City.
Amy Bulloch’s cross found McGowan free at the back post to volley the ball past Clachers.
The home side almost responded immediately but Linda Motlhalo’s shot crashed off the crossbar and Chinchilla couldn’t direct the rebound goalwards. Kinga Kozak, Chinchilla and Davidson would all have efforts deflected wide for corner kicks while Partick Thistle threatened themselves through Imogen Longcake.
As the clock continued to tick towards the 90 minute mark, Motlhalo’s quick feet gave her space to pass the ball to Emily Whelan who played it through to the onrushing Chinchilla inside the penalty area to curl the ball first time past the diving Cunningham and cue celebrations in the Petershill Park stand.
That goal secured the three points for City and kept the two point gap at the top of the table before the final game of the season where we travel to Ibrox Stadium to face Rangers.
Match Information
Team Lines
Glasgow City: Clachers, Warrington (Oscarsson, 75), Muir, Walsh, Fulton (Love, 75), Motlhalo, Davidson, Chinchilla, Foley, Forrest (Kozak, 56), Martin (Whelan, 63). Subs not used: Gibson, Prades, Porter, Colvill, Greening.
Partick Thistle: Cunningham, Slater, Falconer, McGowan, Docherty, McLintock (Adams, 67), Donaldson, Bulloch (McGlashan, 75), Ferguson, Robinson, Longcake. Subs not used: Ramsay, Murphy, Fisher.
Scorers
Glasgow City: Davidson 41’ Chinchilla 86’
Partick Thistle: McGowan 60
Yellow Cards
Glasgow City: Walsh, Foley
Partick Thistle: Docherty, Donaldson
Referee: Ryan Kennedy
Stadium: Petershill Park