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Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup

The draw for the Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup took place at Hampden Park on Monday evening, with Scotland's record goalscorer Julie Fleeting joining host Eilidh Barbour.

Fleeting lifted the trophy in 2015 with Glasgow City, at the end of an illustrious career which saw her score 116 times for her country and win the FA Cup on five occasions.

Eight-time Scottish Cup winners Hibernian face SPWL1 leader Rangers in the pick of the ties. Hibs produced the stand-out performance of the weekend as the defeated last season's semi-finalists Glasgow City on penalties.

Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup holders Celtic will travel to Montrose, while Hearts take on Partick Thistle in an another all-SWPL1 match-up.

Livingston, the sole remaining SPWL2 side, host Spartans in the last of the ties, which will take place on Sunday, 10 March.

A highlights show from this weekend's Scottish Cup Fourth Round will be broadcast on Scottish Cup Youtube Channel on Tuesday.

Speaking after the draw, Julie Fleeting said of the ties: "Hibernian against Rangers is probably the tie that stands out. You’ve got two really good teams and you can see it being extremely competitive. Hibs have put out Glasgow City which shows the standards they can reach, they’re a strong cup side so that’s the one you’re drawn to as a potential upset.

“Livingston and Spartans will have both been delighted to avoid Celtic and Rangers. Spartans haven’t had a brilliant season so far so Livingston will be hoping they can go and upset them. What an opportunity for both sets of players to be dreaming of playing at Hampden for the first time in their careers."

Fleeting never got the opportunity to play at Hampden Park in her career, and she says the prospect of playing at the National Stadium will be huge motivation for the players as the competition reaches the Quarter-Final stage. She said: “It’s unbelievable for these players and they deserve to have that special day at the National Stadium.

"It adds a bit to all the Quarter-Final ties when they are only 90 minutes away from getting on that pitch."

The Scotland legend also reflected on her memories of finals during her trophy-laden career. She added: "Playing in the FA Cup Final was always really special. I was fortunate with Arsenal that I played in quite a few of those but they certainly didn’t lose their importance.

"You were desperate to have that cup final day together with all the other players. It was always live on television and now we have that here in Scotland too. A cup final on TV and in a National Stadium – it’s a great competition and a great opportunity for all these players.

"This was the one cup that I hadn’t won here in Scotland. I’d left to play in America and play in Scotland. I was very fortunate that I was playing in a really good City side, a team who were used to winning trophies and winning cups. I was delighted that before I retired I managed to get a Scottish Cup medal."

Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup Quarter Finals:

Hibernian v Rangers

Livingston v Spartans

Montrose v Celtic

Partick Thistle v Heart of Midlothian

A 12pm kick off between Glasgow City and Hibernian was the first Fourth Round match of the day. Just one place separates the sides in the SWPL and it showed on the pitch, the match ending 1-1 after 90 minutes following Lauren Davidson and Leah Eddie’s first half goals. A goalless extra time meant that penalties were needed to separate the teams. After both sides had one penalty saved in the initial five spot kicks, Jo Love hit the bar in sudden death, allowing Hibernian captain, Joelle Murray, to step up and convert the winner.

The second match-up of the day saw East Fife – the lowest ranked side left in this season’s competition – host Heart of Midlothian of the SWPL. Ultimately, the gap in their league standings was made apparent in a rampant win for the Jambos, who beat the SWF Championship side 10-0. Sade Adamoleken was the stand-out performer in the match, bagging a hat-trick.

1pm brought the kick-off of three more matches, as The Spartans, Montrose and Livingston progressed at the expense of Aberdeen, Stirling University and Gartcairn, respectively. Despite no break in the deadlock at half time, The Spartans took an early lead in the second half through captain Robyn McCafferty, before Darcie Miller equalised for Aberdeen. As the tie looked to be edging towards extra time, Becky Galbraith came up with the winner.

Montrose had a busy second half of their own, following up a single goal in the first half against Stirling University with four more unanswered strikes after the break, two of them coming from Demi Taylor. Stirling University did have the opportunity to get on the scoresheet through a penalty kick, but hit the post.

At the Tony Macaroni Stadium, meanwhile, Gartcairn bagged a late equaliser against a Livingston side that had been reduced to ten players early in the second half. The extra time period that followed saw each side score, which took the match to penalties. In the shootout that followed, Livingston advanced with a 4-3 win.

The day was rounded off with three matches at 4pm, including the reigning Cup holders, Celtic. They comfortably beat Hamilton Academical 5-0, with Natalie Ross scoring a first-half hat-trick in new head coach, Elina Sediku’s first Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup match in charge.

Elsewhere, a competitive tie between Glasgow sides Partick Thistle and Queen’s Park saw The Jags run out 3-1 winners. As part of the win, Carla Boyce scored her first goal since moving to Thistle last month.

Finally, Rangers – beaten finalists last season – advanced into the last eight with a comprehensive 9-0 win over Dundee United at Broadwood Stadium, with seven different scorers getting in on the act, including Lisa Martinez, who scored on her return from a long injury lay off.

(www.scottishfa.co.uk)  

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