FOR the penultimate match of their season Troon Ladies 1s travelled away to Loch Lomond Ladies 1s.

The game proved a disappointment with the 1s having better control of the ball throughout the game, but failing to secure outcomes in the opposition D. They clearly had the opportunities but they could not capitalise on them. The quality of both defence teams preventing either team from gaining an advantage from set pieces. In the end the game was resolved by a series of breakaways. Katie Watson for the 1s succeeded in taking on the opposition goalkeeper, but this could not balance the two breakaway goals for Loch Lomond.

Concluding as a 2-1 loss for the 1s there are clearly lessons that need to be learnt.

It was a very different outcome for Troon Ladies 2s who welcomed Greenock Morton Ladies on a warm and bright Saturday.

From the start, the 2s pushed hard with a series of well-coordinated plays up the wings to the opposition base line, setting up a series of strong passes through the D. While Greenock Morton kept a steady resistance to this onslaught, the intensity brought results during the second quarter. By the end of the first half Olivia Stark had scored from open play while Leigh Timothy had a brace of goals, one of these being a fine strike from top D at the end play from a short corner.

Greenock Morton were not down or out and they started their chase in the final minutes of the first half with a goal from a fast break. Resisting the urge to defend their modest lead, the 2s continued to press hard in the second half. This confidence left the 2s susceptible to breaks that gave Greenock Morton their second goal, but this approach was more than repaid through securing an additional three goals. Leigh Timothy secured her hat-trick, Olivia Stark made her second while Erin Bell joined them with a well worked goal.

The 6-2 win for Ladies 2s gives them their sixth win in a row. They remain third in Division Four with the top three separated by goal difference, not points.

While the 1s have a game left, they’re expected to finish fourth in Division 2, building on their result last season. The final game for both teams will be played after Easter.