Inverness Caley Thistle Women manager Karen Mason has high hopes for in-form striker Betty Ross after making step up from Highlands and Islands League
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle Women striker Betty Ross has everything it takes to make it big in the game, according to manager Karen Mason.
The teenager stepped up from the Highlands and Islands League outfit Clachnacuddin in October last year, and had to be patient for her opportunity as she adjusted to Championship football.
However, things have begun to click in recent weeks. Ross has scored important goals in victories over Hutchison Vale and Rossvale, and has gone a long way to establishing herself amongst fierce attacking competition at Caley Thistle.
Mason is delighted with Ross' development so far, and believes that as she continues to settle at this level she will only go on to hit greater heights.
"It was great to see her getting on the scoresheet again with a couple of well-taken goals, and that has given her plenty to fight with for her place," Mason said.
"She has taken her time a little bit, I had hoped that she would be flying sooner than she has, but she had to adapt to the level.
"Going from the Highlands and Islands League to the Championship, she maybe hasn't been as used to the physicality.
"One touch for her would have taken her past most defenders in the Highlands and Islands League, so the chance to step up is definitely what she has been needing and she has improved.
"There are just little elements of her game Betty still has to work on to be starting more regularly, and hopefully finding the net more often as well, but she's got every attribute required.
"She's obviously quite quiet, and I think she'll have to get used to using her voice a little bit more to be able to demand the ball off anybody at this level. She's got more than enough in her locker to play well at this level, and hopefully score way more goals with more consistent starts as well."
Pass the Hutchie on the left hand side
Just weeks after the last meeting between the sides, Hutchison Vale are due to make the trip up to Inverness this afternoon for one of the last games before the SWF Championship splits.
Caley Thistle can take confidence from knowing that they got three points against today's opponents away from home recently, as well as knowing they will likely have more options to pick from than last week's trip to Rossvale.
While Alex Andrews is still unavailable and Julia Scott keeping Kirsty Deans company on the injured list, Mason was hoping to have Nicola Ross, Natalie Bodiam and Lorna MacRae back available for this afternoon's match.
If the form book is anything to go by, spectators heading to Millburn Academy for the 12.30pm kick off can expect goals as matches between ICT and Hutchison Vale have always been entertaining affairs this season.
"There's never a dull game between us," Mason recalled.
"It has always been fairly close, and I think we're 2–1 up at the moment overall.
"We'll be hoping to win again this Sunday, and we'll have to be at our best to do that, which is a challenge we'll be ready and waiting for.
"If there are a lot of goals and they're not going our way, it's not always enjoyable on the sideline.
"I would probably take more of a 1–0 or 2–0 win rather than conceding and having to fight our way back all the time.
"Goals are always entertaining for everyone watching, but I would much prefer a clean sheet and a few goals in our favour than anyone else's.
"I don't think we've had a calm afternoon at all this season – other than maybe the last game against Hutchie at home actually.
"That was one of our best performances of the season. That's got to be something we aim towards for this games."
