Kilmarnock Women fell to a disappointing 4-0 defeat in their top of the table clash against league leaders Hamilton Accies, writes Riordan Craig.
The visitors dominated every aspect of the game from kick-off to the final whistle with the Killie struggling to create much against the unbeaten league leaders.
Accies started the game on the front foot and were ahead within five minutes.
From a throw-in, the visitors worked their way into the box and Lauren Kerr opened the scoring.
From there, the visitors continued to dominate. Accies won a free-kick on their right wing, at a tight angle near the byline, and Abigail Tobin sent it just over the bar.
A second goal seemed inevitable and Hamilton got it through a swift attack down the right-hand side.
Justine Strain cut inside and fired across Kerrigan’s goal and into the net.
Kilmarnock seemed to get a bit of momentum as they managed to get a shot away themselves, but it was an easy save for Chloe Nicolson in the visitors’ goal.
Instantly, Accies countered. They won another free-kick with Killie defending well to clear the set piece.
Poor luck from Killie’s viewpoint led to Accies’ third. Yet again, the visitors raced down their right flank and got a shot away. Kerrigan could only parry it into the path of Josie Giard who was never going to miss and made it 3-0.
The creative Abby Robinson, who had been mostly subdued, managed to produce a couple of chances for herself.
The midfielder forced an easy save from the visiting goalkeeper then a couple of minutes later should have reduced the deficit.
Nicolson misjudged a cross into the area and Robinson couldn’t control her attempt with the keeper saving.
Before half-time, the hosts were forced into a change. Lucie Burns had to be stretchered off to be replaced by Lauryn Reside.
The hosts got one last chance before the break, as a shot from outside the area was too high and went over the bar.
Killie started the second half a bit better, with Robinson sending an effort just wide from the edge of the area, before substitute Dionne Brown fired a shot over the bar.
They then won a dangerous free-kick which was then smothered by Nicolson before a defender cleared.
Against the run of play, Accies added a fourth. A corner was whipped in and Keira Ritchie got the final touch to send it beyond Kerrigan.
Instantly, Killie could have reduced the deficit but Robinson’s header didn’t worry the visiting goalkeeper.
From there, Accies managed the game well as they kept a tiring Kilmarnock side at bay, forcing them to rely on set pieces only.
They came close a few times to making it five in the closing stages with a shot going high and wide before Kerrigan made a couple of saves as Accies sealed a commanding win.
Chapman said: “It was a poor display. It was a bit disappointing from start to finish, probably right throughout the game.
“You could see there was a bit of fear in our play, we didn’t play as free as we’ve been and, more importantly, you start to look at players just taking more responsibility.
“But we’ve got to take responsibility as well because we put the players on there and we prepare them. It just wasn’t a good day.”
Killie have a free weekend before travelling to Boroughmuir Thistle on November 17 with the gaffer insisting they’ll bounce back from the defeat.
He said: “You don’t become a bad team overnight. It’s the first game that we’ve probably been well below the standards we’ve set. It’s how we respond to that.
“They’re a young group. The experienced players within the group should help guide them and lead them back to get the standards they are capable of doing. Sometimes it needs that.
“It doesn’t matter about coaching or staffing or anybody else trying to do that, players will hold each other accountable.
“Players and good leaders will bring and use their experience to bring the group back to the standards that they’re capable of.
“These things happen in football. You can’t be brilliant every week, and this was certainly a game where we were well below the standards we’ve set.”