Huntly Women defeated 1-0 by Inverurie Locos on debut day, but delight at big Christie Park crowd

By Jonathan Clark

- jonny.clark@hnmedia.co.uk

Published: 15:02, 16 January 2023

| Updated: 15:06, 16 January 2023

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HISTORY was made at Christie Park on Sunday as Huntly Women played their first ever match.

Huntly Women's team walking out with their mascots ahead of their first match. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Locos Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

A 1-0 defeat to local rivals Inverurie Locos, also playing their first game, wasn't the dream debut that had been hoped for, but the bumper crowd – officially tallied at 563 – left the ground with plenty of optimism.

Huntly went into the North League match having played no friendlies due to the season being brought forward, and that perhaps played a part on the day, manager Raymond Henderson said.

Huntly Women ahead of their first match. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women and Inverurie Locos Ladies shake hands ahead of their first match. ..Huntly Women F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's team lined up with their mascots ahead of their first match. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Locos Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

"It was a close game and there wasn't much between the two teams," he said. "Locos probably just deserved the victory based on chances created.

"You could tell our preparations were hampered as we made the wrong choices in the final third, but credit to the girls because that was their first match.

"The change to the season start affected us big time, but the girls fought hard and will grow into it."

The winning goal was scored by Aoife Gauld five minutes before half-time, with Huntly unable to turn the game around after the break.

Inverurie Ladies' Aoife Gauld scoring the only goal of the game. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Inverurie Ladies celebrating Aoife Gauld's goal. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Henderson was quick to praise the crowd – which he believes might have been even higher than recorded.

"I think there were probably a little over 600 people as some came in a different gate that weren't tallied," he said.

Gallery1

Inverurie Ladies' Bethan Wood makes a strike for goal...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Rachel Bain and Inverurie Ladies' Kerri MacKenzie collid...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Jessica Flockhart tries to stop Inverurie Ladies' Aoife Gauld from making any progress...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Inverurie Ladies' Vikki Riddell lunges in to try and stop Huntly Women's Katie Cobban...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Lucy Taylor tries to stop Inverurie Ladies' Charlie Elliott in her tracks. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Elsa Stutter looking for way to stop Inverurie Ladies' Becky Bremner. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Elsa Stutter and Inverurie Ladies' Vikki Riddell tussle to win the ball...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Rachel Bain shields the ball from the challenge against Inverurie Ladies' Carrie-Ann Gordon...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Kirsty Abernethy and Inverurie Ladies' Bethan Wood both go in for the ball. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Charley Henderson makes a shot for goal but is blocked by Inverurie Ladies' Vikki Riddell...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Inverurie Ladies' Carrie-Ann Gordon breaks through Huntly Women's Kirsty Abernethy and Brooke Keenan...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Elsa Stutter tries to block the ball from Inverurie Ladies' Vikki Riddell. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Elsa Stutter and Inverurie Ladies' Louanna Murdoch chase down the ball...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Elsa Stutter and Inverurie Ladies' Louanna Murdoch compete for the ball...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Brooke Keenan and Inverurie Ladies' Charlie Elliott compete for the ball. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Huntly Women's Kirsty Abernethy and Inverurie Ladies' Carrie-Ann Gordon battle to win the ball. ..Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

"The support was incredible, it was one of the highest attendances in Scottish Women's Football at the weekend.

"It was so good that we had messages from the central belt congratulating us on the crowd we managed to attract.

"You saw and heard them during the game, the encouragement was there and that gave the players a massive lift and pushed them on.

"There were quite a lot of families there, which is really good, we want it to be a family occasion and we want the wee ones involved.

"We won't get crowds like that every weekend but even half of that would be incredible.

"So a big thanks from myself and the girls to everyone who turned up. Hopefully we will see them again."

Mascots and ball boys and ball girls in the dressing room prior to the start of Huntly Women's first match...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Locos Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

Last season's league champions East Fife are the next visitors to Christie Park on Sunday – weather permitting.

Henderson added: "It's another tough game, but they lost 5-2 to Forfar at the weekend.

"Both teams will be hoping to win so hopefully we can grab the three points."

Huntly Women's Lucy Taylor was awarded Player of the Match by Huntly Ethical Trading Initiative members Ellie Turner (left) and Jane Taylor (right)...Huntly Women's F.C. v Inverurie Loco Works F.C Ladies at Christie Park...Picture: Beth Taylor.

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