Following last weeks convincing 10-0 victory over Kilmarnock, Forfar Farmington headed to Edinburgh in a confident mood to face Spartans

Starting brightly, Farmington had the best of the early play, and for the first 20 minutes or so found themselves in the ascendency. Spartans were not totally nullified as a threat by stretch of the imagination however, Claire Crosbie nodding over in the 11th minute to remind Farmington of her aerial prowess. Caren Webster and Lucy Graham looked to make the first breakthrough but the latter’s final shot was pulled wide of target. Julia Scott was starting to find some space wide, and from this stung the palms of Harrison with a well struck shot in the 26th minute. Scott then teed up Graham but the youngsters shot scampered just past the post. Spartans responded through Sarah Ewings, but her low shot was well dealt with by Catherine Fitzsimmons. Molly McKean was next to try her luck, but her shot from distance sailed past Fitzsimmons near post. Clear cut goal chances had been a rare commodity during the first period, and Ewings would have the last of these prior the half time break, her shot from distance failing to put the visiting goal under any danger.

The second half got underway, with play again flowing from end to end but with no real chances being created. All this changed in the 52nd minute however when Farmington took the lead. Skipper Nicola Davidson’s surging run down the left flank was the precursor for an perfectly flighted Rachael Small cross which was expertly guided past Harrison by the head of Nicky Grant. Farmington’s opener served as something of a wakeup call for the home side who were soon putting the Forfar backline under some serious pressure. Ewings fired a shot down the throat of Fitzsimmons in the 60th minute, but the American shot stopper was in no mood to surrender a potential shut out. As the pressure continued to mount Emma McCulley and Joanna Collier were introduced ahead of what would turn out to be a pivotal point in the match. With the clock ticking into the 70th minute Spartans substitute Diana Barry sprung the Farmington offside trap and went one on one with Fitzsimmons who produced a magnificent block from Barry’s shot. The loose ball was immediately fired in on the now vacant goal; vacant that is apart from Kelly Clark who produced a sublime diving header to clear the ball away from what would have been a certain equaliser. As the storm continued to be weathered, Caroline Heron was introduced for Julia Scott in what would be the games 2nd pivotal event. Barely on the part for 20 seconds, Heron found herself on the end of a lofted through ball and duly lobbed the ball over Harrison. Heron would have another two chances before the final whistle was blown to signify Farmington’s first ever victory over Spartans.

Thursday will see Farmington face champions Glasgow City in the Semi Final of the SWPL Cup at Hill of Beath Juniors (7.30pm KO), before Celtic come visiting to Strathmore Park on Sunday May 6th (2pm KO)

SWPL Assistant Coach Kevin Candy's post match reaction: