JULIE FLEETING made her Glasgow City debut as the holders beat Aberdeen Ladies 4-1 at Heathryfold Park to reach the quarter finals of the SWF Scottish Cup.
The 34-year-old, who has scored a record 116 goals in 121 games for Scotland, joined City from Celtic in the winter but niggling injuries prevented her from playing until yesterday. She hopes to play a part in Scotland's Euro 2007 campaign, which gets underway in Slovenia next month.
Fleeting didn't score during her first-half 45 minutes but head coach Scott Booth was happy with her contribution. "It went really well," he said after his nostalgic return to Aberdeen, where he scored a few goals himself.
"Julie has only had a week of good training after working for a long time to get back to fitness. She offered us strength up front and the ability to take the ball in – and she did that well.
"It was always the plan only to play her for 45 minutes and hopefully we can get a lot more out of her in the coming weeks."
City took the lead in the 15th minute following a set piece involving two players who, like Fleeting, have well over 100 Scotland caps. Leanne Ross delivered the corner and Jo Love headed past Becky Flaherty in the Aberdeen goal.
City's corner count had risen to seven just after the half hour, but it was the home side who nearly equalised onthe counter through Rachael Small. Instead, the holders made it 2-0 when top scorer Abbi Grant chipped Flaherty from 25 yards.
Kerry Montgomery, City's winter recruit from Spartans, replaced Fleeting at the start of the second half. Another experienced Scotland international, Hayley Lauder, helped make it three after 70 minutes when she exchanged passes with Erin Cuthbert to allow the 17-year-old to drive the ball home.
City skipper Ross made it four 13 near the end, taking advantage of a clever pass from Denise O'Sullivan. Her Aberdeen counterpart Small, who turned her back on international football aged just 21 two years ago, headed past substitute goalkeeper Megan Cunningham to give the home side something tangible for their efforts.
"I'm pleased with some parts of the performance and the result overall," Booth said. "They've come back and hit us with a goal which is the first since I came to the club - so I'm a bit disappointed with that.
"But I'm delighted we're through to the next round and getting four goals was great."
Aberdeen manager Allan Smith, who had seven squad players unavailable, had no complaints.
"We didn't play well at all and weren't at the races," he said. "No excuses - we were beaten by a very good team.
"When they moved Denise O'Sullivan up in the second half she caused us no end of problems. In my eyes she's the best player in the league."
Hibs, who travel to City for a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday, easily beat Forfar Farningham 5-0 with former Celtic player Abi Harrison getting two of them. Rangers have two teams in the last eight - their SWPL side and the one which plays in the SWFL.
Also through are Motherwell, Cumbernauld Colts, Kilmarnock and Stirling University/Celtic.*
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