Scottish Women’s Premier League
Hearts leapfrogged Glasgow City to the top of the Scottish Women’s Premier League after securing a historic first-ever victory over the Petershill Park side.
Defender Danique Ypema delivered the decisive blow with a superb second half drive to earn Eva Olid’s team a 1-0 win, moving the Edinburgh side two points clear at the summit. City, who had not lost a single league match prior to this run, have now suffered three straight defeats. Despite dominating possession in blustery conditions, Leanne Ross’s League Cup winners were unable to break down a well organised Hearts defence. The hosts felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Linda Motlhalo went down in the box, but referee Abbie Hendry waved away the appeals.
Katie Wilkinson scored a hat-trick as Rangers moved into second place in the SWPL with a convincing 3-0 derby victory over Celtic on Easter Monday. The Light Blues extended their unbeaten run against their city rivals to 11 games and now sit just one point behind new leaders Hearts, while moving one point ahead of former pacesetters Glasgow City. Celtic remain six points off the top in fourth. Rangers started brightly and took the lead after 15 minutes when Wilkinson rose at the near post to nod home a Brogan Hay cross, looping the ball over goalkeeper Adelaide Gay and into the far corner. Wilkinson then combined neatly with Camille Lafaix, but the midfielder stabbed her shot wide from 12 yards. Celtic came close to an equaliser when Poppy Pritchard headed an Evie Rabjohn cross into the side netting, before Rabjohn saw a powerful drive well saved by Jenna Fife. Rangers doubled their advantage five minutes before the break as Wilkinson curled an excellent 18-yard free-kick past Gay.
Celtic enjoyed more possession after half time but rarely threatened Fife. At the other end, on-loan Roma midfielder Kim Shin-ji saw a low drive comfortably held by Gay. Wilkinson completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Emma Lawton fouled May Cruft, who had pounced on a poor clearance.
Partick Thistle picked up their first point since the SWPL split as they held reigning champions Hibernian to a 0-0 draw at Meadowbank. Scotland international Kathleen McGovern missed a penalty for Hibs nine minutes into the second half after Joelle Murray’s side were awarded a spot kick for handball. McGovern later struck the bar, while captain Siobhan Hunter went close late on, but it proved a frustrating afternoon for the visitors, who had beaten league leaders Glasgow City earlier in the week. For Gary Holt’s Thistle, who were narrowly defeated by Rangers in midweek after conceding a 94th minute winner against Celtic previously, it was a hard-earned point that demonstrates they can compete with the division’s best.
Hamilton Academical’s long-anticipated relegation from the SWPL was finally confirmed as they suffered a heavy defeat in the Lanarkshire Derby against Motherwell at K-Park. Carla Boyce headed Motherwell in front, before on-loan Hibernian midfielder Milly Boughton added a second before half time. Accies goalkeeper Erin Halliday produced several important saves, including denying point blank efforts and tipping over a strike from namesake Keri Halliday, but Motherwell added two more goals after the break. Scotland Under-23 defender Jenna Penman tapped in from close range, while Boughton curled home directly from a corner.
Demi Taylor scored a dramatic 96th minute winner as Montrose completed a late comeback to defeat Aberdeen 2-1 at Links Park. Scott Booth’s Dons looked set for a valuable three points in their battle to avoid the relegation play-offs when Maddie Finnie gave them an early lead after just three minutes. However, Craig Feroz’ side, who are aiming to finish as the best of the bottom four, refused to lie down. They levelled in the 85th minute through on-loan Glasgow City forward Sophia Martin, who was set up by Taylor for the equaliser. Taylor then stole the headlines deep into stoppage time with the winning goal, leaving Aberdeen three points adrift of eighth placed Motherwell having played a game more.
SWPL 2
Leaders Kilmarnock went down to only their second defeat of the season, beaten 3-2 by Boroughmuir Thistle. It looked as though Killie were on their way towards a routine victory when Louise Cowan and Laura McLaughlin put them two ahead at half time but after the break, Ria McCafferty and Ami Robertson scored in quick succession to bring Boroughmuir back on level terms and Leah Sidey completed the turnaround with the winning goal, twelve minutes from time. The result gives a glimmer of hope to second placed Spartans, who narrowed the gap on Kilmarnock to seven points with a 3-0 victory over Gartcairn Women. Chloe Hutchison and Emily Cadell put Spartans two up at the break and they sealed the points in the second half when Robyn McCafferty added the third. Queen’s Park returned to winning ways, defeating Dundee United 2-0 with first half goals from Summer Thomson and Rosie McQuillan. Livingston are on course to finish on top of the bottom half of the split, following their 5-2 success away to St Johnstone. Dionne Brown, Shivohn Honeyman, Seren McCulloch, Nicole Cairney and Sarah MacLeod were all on target for Livi, with Eirinn McCafferty and Elvie McLean replying. East Fife meanwhile won for the fourth time this season, 2-0 away to Stirling University with goals from Teri Skivington and Marley Harrow.
