PICTURES: Five-goal Sarah Westwood fires Elgin City women’s football team to victory over Stonehaven Ladies in Scottish Women’s Football League North

By Craig Christie

- craig.christie@hnmedia.co.uk

Published: 15:15, 09 April 2024

| Updated: 16:15, 09 April 2024

Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.

Sign Up

Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

History was made in Elgin City women’s football team’s victory over Stonehaven Ladies on Sunday.

Scoring her fifth goal of the afternoon, Elgin City forward Sarah Westwood makes it 8-0.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Elgin City keeper Isla Milne.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

City striker Sarah Westwood became the first player to score five goals in a game for the club, inspiring an 8-1 success at Gleaner Arena.

Elgin City's Sarah Westwood cebrates with team mate Darcy Matheson after her deflected shot opened the scoring.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Elgin City's Sarah Westwood looks for a way past Stonehaven's Katie Petrie.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

The win maintains Elgin’s bid to finish second in the Scottish Women’s Football League North in their debut season.

Elgin City's Abigail Hayes holds off a challenging Brodie Crighton of Stonehaven.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

The Black and Whites, managed by former men’s team’s favourite Michael Morrison, were keen to bounce back from an 8-4 defeat at Dyce in their last game - and they did so in style.

Westwood was the star of the show, netting five times to move into the top scorer position at the club with 16 strikes this season.

Elgin City forward Emma Craig tussles with Stonehaven's Taylor Clark.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

City took time to settle into the contest but Westwood struck twice on 25 and 33 minutes to give them a 2-0 lead at the interval.

Elgin City's Darcy Matheson plays through the Stoney defence.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Elgin City's Charlotte Worthing plays the ball away from a Stonehaven duo.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Half time sub Lauren Doherty took just three minutes to make a scoring impact in the second half, sparking a goal blitz by the home team.

Elgin City forward Lauren Doherty makes it 3-0 in the second half.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Elgin City's Sarah Westwood scores her hat-trick to make it 4-0 to the home side.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

In the next five minutes Westwood scored two more, sandwiching a goal by Orla Scott as Elgin raced into a 6-0 lead.

Elgin City winger Orla Scott smashes home her shot to make it 5-0.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Elgin City's Orla Scott celebrates her goal.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Doherty grabbed her second midway through the half and Westwood chipped in with her fifth before Stonehaven’s efforts were rewarded with a late consolation.

Elgin City's Charley Gourlay has a shot on goal.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Making it 6-0 to the City, Sarah Westwood scores her fourth goal of the afternoon this time from the penalty spot.Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Next up for City’s women is a trip to Harlaw Park to face champions-elect Inverurie Locos, who could clinch the title against their Moray opponents on Sunday.

Locos have won all 13 of their league fixtures so far including a 3-0 success at Elgin in November, so the incentive for the Black and whites is to become the first side to take points off the runaway leaders this term.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.

Football Inspire me Craig Christie