Local star Eartha Cumings keeps clean sheet for Country on home ground

Local girl Eartha Cumings represented Scotland last night in the Under 17s Women’s Vauxhall International Challenge Match at a sunny Ainslie Park, writes Mark Brown.

Eartha, 16, who plays for Spartans Women in the SWPL, was between the posts in a game that saw three first half goals secure victory for Pauline Hamill’s Scotland side over the Republic of Ireland

Eartha Cummings (centre) lines up for Scotland

The friendly fixture was the first test for the young Scots ahead of their Euro Qualifying campaign that begins in October and they had the Tartan Army within the 378 fans inside the home of Spartans FC cheering after just five minutes.

Determined play by Celtic’s Kaela McDonald in midfield saw the No.10 use her strength to rampage through the heart of the Irish defence before unleashing an unstoppable drive past Sophie Lenehan in the visitors’ goal.

Ireland’s hopes of getting back into the match were thwarted by a double-whammy courtesy of the impressive Brogan Hay. The Glasgow City playmaker scored twice in three minutes leaving the tourists shell-shocked and Scotland en-route to a comfortable win.

Hay’s first came after a fine solo run saw her slalom through the Irish defence before drilling the ball low into the net. Her second, in the 27th minute had the fans on their feet after leaving Ireland’s Tara Mannix stationery after a wonderful turn inside the box to set up a scoring chance she wasn’t going to miss.

It gave Hay’s side a three goal lead that they never looked like surrendering and with a second half notable mainly for its plethora of replacements from both camps that fragmented play and saw Scotland goalkeeper Eartha Cumings – playing at her Club’s home ground – to record a clean sheet in a win that sent the Saltire-clad fans away from North Edinburgh content with the evening’s outcome.

Scotland: Cumings, McAlpine, Rice, Cunningham, Cameron, Kerr (c), Dalgleish, McGregor, Gordon, McDonald, Hay. Subs – Used: Farquhar, Fraser, Doran-Barr, Napier, Notley, Gollan. Not Used: Elliot (GK).