Huntly Women 2 Dryburgh Athletic 2: Visitors see four red cards before last-minute Huntly leveller
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A LAST-MINUTE leveller was a fitting end to the most action-packed and controversial of games between Huntly Women and Dryburgh Athletic on Sunday.
Tilly Storey had given Huntly an early lead at the town's astoturf pitch before Dryburgh's quick first-half turnaround saw them lead 2-1 at the break through Charley Finlayson and Hope Ramage goals.
A double red card, both for dissent, then saw the visitors reduced to nine players, before they were reduced to seven in second half added time, again both for dissent for disputing the award of a penalty.
Storey dispatched said penalty for her second of the afternoon to take a share of the spoils in the 95th minute.
One of Dryburgh's players was shown three red cards on the pitch, with another shown two. Several members of the visiting backroom staff were almost sent off.
Huntly manager Raymond Henderson didn't want to get drawn into talking about the red cards, but admitted he was disappointed to drop two points.
"We didn't play our best," he said. "We were quite poor and it was an even game.
"When they got their first two red cards they just sat in and kicked the ball up the park. We were coming at them but couldn't break them down.
"We got the last-minute penalty but, to be fair, we probably didn't deserve anything from the game.
"The red cards did make it difficult and probably threw off the girls. It was a very, very surreal match."
Huntly are fifth in Women Scottish Football's North Division with 10 points from their opening six matches.
Tilly Storey's double at the weekend continues her hot streak in front of goal.
Henderson added: "There are only five points between top and fifth so we are still right in it.
"We have a young team and it's a shortened season for us that we will learn from.
"Tilly is the clear top scorer now, she's got five or six goals now.
"She's playing up front but she was actually signed as a defender, to play centre half.
"I saw something in training and thought she was a natural finisher. She's been a big plus point for us so far this season."
Huntly are away to Stonehaven on Sunday, where they will aim to get back to winning ways.
They will have Hannah Dryden, who has top flight experience with Forfar Farmington, in the squad. Dryden has moved to Huntly to work at Gordon Schools and has joined up with the Black and Golds.
