Gavin Levey believes Aberdeen Women paid the price for their profligacy in their 2-0 defeat to Motherwell.
After a scrappy opening 45 minutes at Balmoral Stadium, with the Dons having the most notable opportunities, Motherwell took the lead through a long-range Tiree Burchill strike right on half-time.
Motherwell got their second after 59 minutes when Louisa Boyes unleashed a curling effort from just outside the box after latching on to a slack Aberdeen pass at the back.
There were plenty chances for Aberdeen to get themselves back into the game after going behind, but the Reds suffered their first defeat in three SWPL 1 games.
Despite the loss, Levey’s side remain in ninth with 24 points, two clear of Dundee United in 10th and seven ahead of 11th-placed Hamilton Accies, who occupy the relegation play-off spot.
The Dons interim manager said: “That’s one that has got away. We created good chances, like we have been in our previous games, but just didn’t take them.
“I thought we should have been ahead at half-time, even then I was thinking if we can get in at 0-0 then we can regroup, but we concede a minute before the end of the half – that was sore to take.
“We lose a poor goal early on in the second half and that gives Motherwell something to hold on to. They managed the game well and their goalkeeper made some terrific saves.
“On that performance, we should’ve come away with something.
“There was just not enough quality in the final third, and despite the two goals we’ve lost – I think we should be walking away from here having scored two or three goals ourselves.”
A scrappy encounter at Balmoral
There was an Aberdeen debut for on-loan Celtic goalkeeper India Marwaha, while Hannah Stewart, Bailley Collins and Francesca Ogilvie also came into the starting XI.
It was a lacklustre opening 20 minutes, with Motherwell registering the first chance of the game but Katie Rice’s long-range shot went well wide of the target.
Aberdeen started to find their feet in the game and had two chances in quick succession as Millie Urquhart hit the bar, before Bayley Hutchison blasted her effort over.
It was the Dons who continued to create the best opportunities, as Hutchison teed up Collins, who was denied by a fantastic stop from former Aberdeen Ladies goalkeeper Emily Mutch.
Urquhart looked lively down the right flank and had an excellent first touch to take the ball down, before finding Ogilvie with a superb pass, but her effort was off target.
The final 15 minutes of the first half became cagey again and the Motherwell dug-out were becoming visibly frustrated as player-coach Leanne Crichton was shown a yellow on the sidelines.
After the interval, Ogilvie had a glorious chance to pull level but she delayed her shot and she hit it right at Mutch who didn’t have to do much to push the ball over the bar.
The next best opportunity fell to the Dons against the run of play and this time Mutch made a fantastic stop with her feet to deny Hutchison from close-range.
With their best chance of the second half, Motherwell went close to doubling their advantage but Boyes’ strike was just an inch too high as it only just went over the bar, however, her next effort was the visitors’ second goal.
There was an immediate response from Aberdeen as Hutchison hooked a shot goal wards which looked off target, but it clipped the post before Mutch collected it.
Donna Paterson was next to go close for the Dons as her effort from a corner was saved by Mutch, after the Motherwell goalkeeper made another fine stop and sent the ball out for the set-piece to deny Collins.
In the dying minutes, Marwaha made a fantastic low-diving save at her far past to keep out Burchill, who was played clear through on goal.
The other north results
Caley Thistle Women will go into the SWF Championship split on a positive note after they beat Greenock Morton 2-1 at home thanks to a Kayleigh Mackenzie double.
The win guarantees Karen Mason’s side a fifth-place finish in the third tier, as the Caley Jags move 10 points clear of Dryburgh Athletic with three post-split games to play.
In SWF League One, Westdyke have taken their promotion push down to the wire as they beat Edinburgh Caledonia 6-1 to move within one point of Falkirk in second.
The third-placed Westhill side face the Bairns on the final day of the season on Sunday, with a place in the Championship the prize for whoever wins.
In Biffa SWFL North, Huntly’s away clash against Dryburgh was abandoned after 13 minutes following a player injury.
Inverurie Locos beat East Fife 4-0 to extend their advantage in second to seven points, while Dyce won 4-0 against north rivals Buchan.
It was a tough afternoon for Stonehaven, as they suffered a 10-1 defeat to Glenrothes Strollers on the road in Fife.
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