The website dedicated to women's football across the country, at ALL levels of the game

@en

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Back to home page

Scottish Women’s Premier League

Aberdeen secured their place in the ScottishPower Scottish Women's Premier League 1 line up for the 2026-27 season with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Queen's Park in the Play-off Final on Friday night.

First half goals from Naomi McLaughlin and Maddie Finnie put the Dons in control, before McLaughlin added a second and Toni Leigh Finnegan and Darcie Miller completed the rout in the second period.

It was a bridge too far for a valiant Queen’s Park side who had battled their way through narrow victories against Boroughmuir Thistle and Kilmarnock to reach this stage, but the higher league status took its toll on them as Aberdeen ruthlessly averted any relegation fears ahead of the game.

Aberdeen started brightly and dominated the opening stages. Darcie Miller came closest early on with an improvised overhead kick from Eva Thomson’s delivery, which drew a fine save from Queen’s Park goalkeeper Jasmine McPhie. The first fifteen minutes were one-way traffic, though the SWPL2 side defended resolutely.

Miller again went close, meeting McLaughlin’s cutback, but the breakthrough arrived on 16 minutes. McLaughlin fired home a half volley from just inside the box after her initial shot was blocked, with a deflection off Ciara Bonner helping it past McPhie.

The lead was doubled on 24 minutes when defender Maddie Finnie rose highest to head home a corner, punishing slack marking from the visitors. Queen’s Park hit back and created a half chance on 34 minutes through Sophie Rutherford, who beat Finnegan and drove towards goal, but her low cross was blocked and appeals for a penalty were waved away.

Aberdeen could have added a third before the interval as McLaughlin dispossessed the last defender on the halfway line and played in Miller, who released Mia Selbie. The winger was denied by another excellent save from McPhie.

The Dons started the second half as they intended and made it three shortly after the restart. McLaughlin finished from close range after Abi Tobin’s cut back, with McPhie only able to push the ball into the net.

Finnegan added a fourth on the hour mark, bundling the ball home from a corner amid a crowded penalty area.

Summer Thomson forced a save at the other end but the game was effectively over as a contest, and Darcie Miller finally got the goal her performance deserved in the closing stages, tapping into an empty net after a neat squared pass from Bridget Galloway.

Aberdeen: Katie Cox, Toni Leigh Finnegan, Brodie Greenwood (sub Aimee Black 66mins), Naomi McLaughlin (sub Kerry Beattie 81mins), Maddie Finnie, Emma Ilijoski, Eva Thomson (sub Bridget Galloway 66mins), Abi Tobin (sub Erin Carrol 81mins), Darcie Miller, Mya Christie, Mia Selbie (sub Holly Daniel 81mins). Subs not used: Anna Prawer, Jess Broadrick.

Queen's Park: Jasmine McPhie, Morgan Hay, Ciara Bonner, Ellie MacDonald, Sophie Rutherford, Abby Callaghan, Ellie Kane, Darcie Molley (sub Dara Ositelu 45mins (sub Rosie McQuillan 56mins)), Abbie Cusack, Summer Thomson, Murron Cunningham. Subs not used: Natalie Angelini, Rachael O'Neill.

Meanwhile in the SWPL 2 Play-off Final the night before, also at the Albert Bartlett Stadium, Falkirk won promotion to the second tier in the women’s game in Scotland with a 2-1 victory over East Fife, who are relegated back to the Championship, Anna Murray and Caitlin McFarlane scoring their goals.