Scottish Women’s Premier League
Rangers maintained their three-point lead at the top of the Scottish Women's Premier League going into the international break, though they were far from their clinical best in a narrow 1-0 victory at Partick Thistle. 
Blustery conditions at Petershill made for a tricky afternoon, with chances few and far between. Bailey Collins had a shot saved for Rangers, as did Rachel Donaldson for the hosts, before the visitors made the breakthrough. Collins raced through and found Eva Hendle, whose cross was steered home by Jodi McLeary. Katy Wilkinson missed a couple of chances to make life more comfortable after the break, and Thistle almost punished them in added time, but Sienna McGoldrick blazed a free kick over. Rangers still lead the way from Celtic, while Partick remain sixth.
Celtic returned to winning ways with a dominant 4-0 win over Spartans. After their first defeat of the season to Rangers last weekend, Grant Scott's side were quick out of the blocks. Casey Howe, restored to the starting line up, opened the scoring after seven minutes. Spartans thought they had equalised late in the first half, but Freya Brein's shot was ruled out for offside. With half time looming, Lisa Robertson powered in a great strike to double the lead. Maria McAneny was a thorn in Spartans' side all afternoon, and a great piece of skill from her set up Amy Gallagher for the third, before Chloe Craig completed the scoring from the penalty spot after a foul on Howe.
A hat-trick from Mariana Speckmaier earned Hearts victory and the Capital Cup over city rivals Hibernian in an entertaining Edinburgh derby at Easter Road. The Venezuela forward grabbed her first midway through the first period, latching onto a lovely ball in from Mairead Fulton. Hibs responded with a well taken goal from Aoife Colvill, who found space to squeeze the ball past Emma Thomson. Speckmaier then scored her second to give Hearts the lead at the break, taking advantage of a poor touch by Siobhan Hunter and nipping in to slot home coolly. Both goalkeepers were called into action early in the second half, Thomson keeping out Libby Smith and Eve Annets producing a great save to deny Lauren Wade. Speckmaier completed her treble on 69 minutes after Kayla Jardine's shot was clawed away into her path. Colvill pulled one back with a stunning volley from just outside the area, but Hearts held firm despite Ellen Dolan's late dismissal to move three points clear of their hosts.
Glasgow City moved up to fourth after a comfortable 3-1 win over bottom side Montrose, with the match having been switched to Forfar. An early free kick near the touchline from Lisa Evans set the tone, before Kelly Brady added her fifth league goal since joining in the summer. Despite City's dominance, Montrose pulled one back early in the second half through Ashley Robertson's first goal since returning to the club. City could have been out of sight, with the woodwork preventing them from extending their lead on more than occasion, but Emily Whelan made an instant impact off the bench, sealing victory with her 77th minute goal via a cross-cum-shot. City move up one place to fourth, seven points off top spot, while Montrose remain rooted to the foot of the table after losing all seven of their opening games.
Motherwell prevented Aberdeen from picking up their first league point of the season with an injury time winner at K-Park. Carla Boyce, who came on at half time, scored the decisive goal, heading in from a free kick. The late winner was agonising for Aberdeen, who still remain pointless after seven league games. They stay ninth, ahead of Montrose on goal difference, while Motherwell are third bottom, six points ahead.
SWPL 2
Carys Grieve and Adian Ibrahim scored first half goals as leaders Boroughmuir Thistle won 2-0 away to Dundee United. Thistle have extended their advantage to three points after second placed Kilmarnock were held to a 1-1 draw by Gartcairn Women. Killie got off to a great start when Cara Gray gave them the lead from the penalty spot after just two minutes but Cairn fought back after the break and a goal from Clare Docherty, also a penalty, gave them a share of the spoils. Queen’s Park remain in third after getting the better of St Johnstone in a ten-goal thriller at McDiarmid Park. Rebecca McAliister scored twice for the Spiders along with Olivia King, Abby Callaghan, Nicole Cairney and Hannah Cairns, whilst the Saints replied with doubles from Elvie McLean and Jodie Malcolm. Falkirk ran out 5-1 winners over Renfrew thanks to a Kasha Gronowska Butz hat-trick and Seren McCulloch double, with Rachael McConnachie replying. Aoibhe Toner (2), Chloe Muir and Josephine Giard accounted for the goals as Hamilton Academical won 4-2 at Livingston to go into the top half of the table, with Lila Sallis and Kaitlyn Canavan on target for the home side.
Photo - Rangers goal heroine Jodi McLeary on the attack against Partick Thistle (SWPL/Colin Poultney)
