St Ninian’s HS, Giffnock and Wallace High School, Stirling contested a great final played at Hampden Park in the first girls’ final staged at The National Stadium in the twenty five years’ existence of the girls’ national competition. Both teams certainly grabbed their chance in the spot light and produced a very good, well contested match that had the most dramatic of finishes.
It was Wallace High School who snatched the Shield in added on time when a penalty shoot out looked very likely.
Beth Watson sent over an in-swinging corner which found the net despite the despairing effort of St Ninian’s excellent young goalkeeper, Olivia Kerr, who had played so well through out.
It was too late for St Ninian’s to mount a come back so it was Wallace who took the spoils in a game they probably just edged on chances made.
The fact that only one goal separated the teams was down to well organised defence and the excellent performance of both young goalkeepers. Olivia Kerr, St Ninian’s had numerous saves mainly at the feet of onrushing forwards while Lucy McNair for Wallace saved everything that came her way.
There were great spells of play, lots of chances made and some good chances missed in a game that tested the endurance and fitness of both teams on the big Hampden surface.
Both teams took advantage of the roll on , roll off substitution system allowed in schools’ football. Substitutions were a prominent part of the game and the physios of both teams were kept busy.
This probably led to the significant period of added time played by the excellent match referee Lauren Whitehead and her assistants Victoria Kane and Caitlin Hamilton.
SSFA President Gillian Duffy. Scotland legend Rose Riley and Scottish Football Partnership’s Sandy Hodge presented the medals at time up to the match officials and players of both teams and handed the Senior Shield to Wallace High School’s captain Sophie Timlin who was probably the game’s best player.
St Ninian's High School Squad
Wallace High School Squad
Wallace Captain Sophie Timlin and Vice-Captain Jen Ralston with the Shield
