Glasgow City assistant Leanne Crichton admitted that psychologically the benefit of heading into the winter break at the top of the table could be huge for the Petershill side.
City’s thumping 7-0 win over Dundee United added to Hibs’ 3-0 win over Rangers means that City now have a five point cushion at the top. “It was a case of being professional for us at this stage of the season,” said City assistant Leanne Crichton. “The players have had to dig in the last few weeks but conditions have been tough.
“The players have dealt with that as well as they could. It was about getting the three points and reducing the goal difference. Being at Glasgow City historically, we would always rather be at the top of the table and dealing with that pressure is where you want to be. But there is nothing won on December. Psychologically for the players, though, it is a good place to be.”
Gers’ thumping makes it back-to-back defeats for Jo Potter’s side. Kathleen McGovern had opened the scoring for Grant Scott’s side. Rangers pushed to get themselves back into the game but McGovern netted her second of the afternoon in the latter stages when she capitalised on a mistake from Rangers to pick up a loose ball and smash the ball into the top corner. Substitute Rosie Livingstone made it three when she fired beyond Vic Esson into the inside netting.
The win moves Hibs to within two points of Edinburgh rivals Hearts, and three behind Rangers. How damaging these past two defeats will be to Rangers and their title ambitions remains to be seen.
Celtic hit Spartans for five with a brace from Emma Lawton and Saoirse Noonan while captain Kelly Clark also netted as Elena Sadiku’s side closed the year with a victory. They remain in fifth spot and nine points and nine points off of league leaders City but have two games in hand to play; win them both and they would go above Rangers.
“It wasn’t our best performance but we were dominant and in control,” said Sadiku. “We scored five goals so it is job done. We created some good chances so I am happy with the three points. We have different goalscorers and that is something to highlight because we can score different ways.
“I want us to be unpredictable. But we wanted to finish the year strongly and with a win and we have done that so it was a good day for us. We need to recharge now and get ready to do some really good things in the second half of the season.”
Hearts were held to a goalless draw against Motherwell which keeps Paul Brownlie’s side in the top six while Partick Thistle’s game against Aberdeen was called off because of the weather. Elsewhere, Montrose beat Queen’s Park to move four points clear of the Spiders.