Inverness Caley Thistle relief as double from super sub Rhea Hossack seals comeback win against Hutchison Vale in the SWF Championship
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle Women boss Karen Mason says the overwhelming emotion was relief after her side came from behind to beat Hutchison Vale – but she also knows Rhea Hossack has made her case to start next time out.
The Caley Jags could have taken the lead straight from kick off, as Kayleigh Mackenzie's ball over the top of the visitor's defence was latched on to by Iona MacArthur, though she was not able to find the net.
While that was an opportunity for a blistering start missed, Inverness generally felt in control at Millburn Academy until a defensive error put them behind.
With a loose ball running back into her own box, Nicola Ross tried to shepherd it back to goalkeeper Kim Jappy, but a Hutchie player nipped in instead to poke the ball home.
A goal behind, it looked like it may have been another frustrating afternoon for ICT until two goals from substitute Hossack turned the game around.
First, Ellie Anderson did well to find Natalie Bodiam on the left, whose cross picked out Hossack in enough space to shoot through Hutchie's keeper and in to equalise.
Then Hossack took the ball from a throw in, managed to turn into the box before picking out the top corner.
Caley Thistle has several chances after that to put the result beyond doubt, but although they had to settle for a 2–1 win it was a job well done to see out the victory.
"It's major relief," Mason admitted at full time.
"With losing that sloppy goal we thought 'here we go again', but we showed the fighting spirit we showed last week against Rossvale to come back again.
"It's not something I want to make a habit of, going a goal down and rescuing points, but we'll take that today to get three points at home again.
"I thought throughout the game we were the better team, we just couldn't put our chances away early in the first half.
"I'm happy that we've managed to get the win at the end of all that.
"Betty Ross came off the bench to score two and win the game for us last week, and she took her place in the starting 11 today.
"Now Rhea has done the same with Betty, so it goes to show that the competition between them is rife. Maybe one day we'll get to see them on the park together to see what they can do.
"We can't ask for more than that from Rhea, she came on and made an impact to our benefit."
