Scottish Women’s Premier League
Hearts can secure their first-ever Scottish Women's Premier League title by avoiding defeat against city rivals Hibernian on the final day of the season next Sunday.
Eva Olid’s side head into the finale with a two-point lead after being held to a goalless draw by Glasgow City at Oriam on Sunday. The result means the Championship will go down to the wire for a fourth successive season.
A tense and largely uneventful first half offered few chances, though both sides went close after the interval. Lauren Wade’s dangerous free kick was almost turned home by the stretching Erin Husband, but the Hearts youngster could not quite make contact. Shortly afterwards, City substitute Lisa Forrest directed a diving header wide from close range.
Hearts pushed hard for a late winner, yet Glasgow City looked lively on the counter attack, with Emily Whelan forcing a smart save from Rachael Johnstone.
Rangers responded in impressive fashion, cruising to a 4-0 victory over Celtic at home to stay firmly in the title hunt while also booking their place in next season’s Champions League alongside Hearts.
Katie Wilkinson opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 15 minutes following a foul by Hannah Luke on Jodi McLeary. She added her second deep in first half stoppage time, converting a Laura Berry cross.
Berry herself made it 3-0 shortly after the restart with a well struck effort from the edge of the box, and Scotland international Mia McAulay put the gloss on the scoreline late on when her cross sailed over Celtic goalkeeper Lisa Rodgers and into the net.
Although Rangers now enjoy a superior goal difference to Hearts, the league’s tie-breaker prioritises head-to-head records; Hearts have won three and drawn one of their four meetings with Rangers this season. Rangers will host Glasgow City on the final day, while Hearts travel to face reigning champions Hibernian.
Hibernian continue to round off their season well, with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Partick Thistle. Scotland international Eilidh Adams opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 19th minute, and Hannah Jordan added a second just two minutes later.
Tegan Bowie marked her 100th appearance for the club with a goal five minutes before half time. Rachel Donaldson netted a late consolation for Thistle, who end the post-split phase without a win and with just one match remaining.
Motherwell claimed a late 2-2 draw against Aberdeen to finish as the highest placed side in the bottom four. Iain Robinson’s team took the lead through Hearts loanee Keri Halliday, who scored on the rebound after 24 minutes. Aberdeen turned the game around with second half goals from Bridget Galloway and Darcie Miller, the latter converting a fine cross from captain Hannah Stewart. However, a defensive error allowed teenager Hannah Cairns to equalise for Motherwell, securing seventh place and keeping them above Montrose. Aberdeen, who finished ninth, face the SWPL play-off against Kilmarnock.
Kaela McDonald-Nguah’s hat-trick inspired Montrose to a thumping 5-0 victory over winless Hamilton Academical in their final match of the season. Demi Taylor gave Montrose the lead on the half hour mark, before McDonald-Nguah struck five minutes later. She added her second with eleven minutes remaining and completed her hat-trick – Montrose’s second-ever in the top flight – in stoppage time, whilst Neve Guthrie also found the net.
SWPL 2
Spartans won the SWPL 2 title and are back in the top flight of women’s football after a year away, following an astonishing run in the latter stages of the season. For much of the campaign, it looked as though runners-up and a play-off position was the most they could hope for, but twelve wins in thirteen matches, culminating in a 2-0 victory over Dundee United on Sunday, saw them take the leadership for the first time, on the last day of the season. After a goalless first half, Natalie Bandura gave Spartans the lead shortly after the restart and Izzy Young added the second to give Spartans the result they needed, whilst season-long leaders Kilmarnock finish second after going down to a 2-0 defeat at Queen’s Park. Both goals came late in the game, Abby Callaghan putting the Spiders in front with three minutes remaining and Sophie Rutherford scoring the second in injury time. The win was not quite enough for Queen’s Park to finish in the top three, Boroughmuir Thistle instead took third place when they battled out a 1-1 draw with Gartcairn Women. Jessica Linden gave Cairn the lead just before half time and they held on until stoppage time, when Holly Aitchison earned Boroughmuir a share of the spoils.
East Fife were condemned to finish in the play-off position by the foot of the table after they were beaten 2-1 by St Johnstone. The teams went into the game level on points but goals from Elvie McLean and Ellie MacIver gave Saints the result they needed for safety, whilst the Fifers’ consolation came from Harriet Anderson. Livingston meanwhile rounded off the campaign on a winning note, with a 6-1 success against Stirling University. Justine Strain gave Livi the lead from the penalty spot in the first half and she went on to complete her hat-trick after the break, whilst Aimee Murray bagged a break and Nicole Cairney added the other goal.
