Scottish Women’s Premier League
Rangers made a very quick return to top spot as they won 2-0 away to Hearts, who had been one place below them and level on points at the start of play. A firm strike from the edge of the area by Brogan Hay gave Rangers the lead on 36 minutes and they secured three valuable points when Rio Hardy slotted home the second, early in the second half.
Glasgow City are up into second place, their highest position of the season to date, thanks to a 3-0 victory over Hibernian. Emily Whelan got City off to the best possible start when she gave them the lead in the opening minute, but the game remained in the balance until the last six minutes when Sofia Maatta doubled their advantage and substitute Rammie Noel made the game safe with the third in injury time.
Celtic had actually gone back on top of the table on Thursday night when they won 4-2 at Montrose, but subsequent results mean that they are now in third. The match had been moved to a few days earlier because of Celtic being involved in their UEFA Women’s Champions League tie on Sunday, and Saoirse Noonan and Maria McAneny ensured that the Ghirls were two goals ahead at half time and Noonan added her second within three minutes of the restart. Alma Codegoni pulled a goal back for Montrose on the hour and Louise Brown made it two with ten minutes remaining, but any Celtic nerves were calmed moments later when Noonan completed her hat-trick and sealed the points for her side.
A 4-0 victory away to Dundee Utd means that Partick Thistle keep hold of sixth place in the table. Cara Henderson put Thistle in front after fourteen minutes and Rosie Slater quickly added a second. After the break, Lucy Sinclair made it three and Tiree Burchill rounded off the scoring with the final goal.
Motherwell recorded the biggest win of the day, scoring six times without reply against Queen’s Park. Laura Berry gave ‘Well the lead from the penalty spot in the tenth minute and she netted a second on the half hour, with Bailey Collins adding two more ahead of the interval. Berry rounded off a great day for herself during the second half, for a four-goal haul overall in Motherwell’s third league victory of the season.
Spartans have climbed out of the bottom two following their 3-1 victory against Aberdeen. Olivia Chomczuk put the Edinburgh side in front on the quarter hour and after the interval, Erin Rennie and Kate Fraser further increased their lead before Hannah Stewart grabbed a late consolation from the penalty spot.
SWPL 2
Hamilton Academical have gone five points clear at the top after they defeated Gartcairn Women 2-0. Eryn Brown opened the scoring for the Accies with a well executed volley and Melissa Reid sealed the points with the second goal. Kilmarnock meanwhile replaced Livingston in second place by winning their meeting 6-3, spearheaded by a four-goal haul from Lucie Burns. Reese McCulloch and Bayley Hanvey weighed in with the other goals for Killie, whilst Livingston’s replies came from Natasha Frew, Shannon Mulligan and Erin Burns. Boroughmuir Thistle now complete the top three, moving above Livi on goal difference with 5-1 victory over St Johnstone in which Leni Parrish, Cara Borthwick, Cailin Michie and Robin Gallagher all scored along with an own goal, whilst the visitors’ consolation came from Jodie Malcolm. In the other game, the points were shared as Rossvale and Ayr Utd battled out a 1-1 draw, Emily Shanks giving Rossvale an early lead and Ayr equalising through substitute Jaya Gill with ten minutes remaining.
There are no league fixtures scheduled in either division for this Sunday, due to the clubs taking part in the Second Round of the Sky Sports Cup.
