There were big wins in the SWPL for the top four who all got 2025 up and running with positive results.
Rangers were the biggest scorers, thumping Queen’s Park 14-0 as they worked out the frustrations of their back-to-back defeats in December. League leaders Glasgow City beat Aberdeen 6-1 while Elena Sadiku’s Celtic saw off a spirited Partick Thistle side with a 4-2 win. City had the game beyond the reach of Aberdeen thanks to four goals within the opening 15 minutes.
Nicole Kozlova and Brenna Lovera both netted twice, Natalie Wrobel and Lisa Forrest also chipped in. Aberdeen’s late consolation came from Nicola Jamieson. City assistant boss Leanne Crichton said: “For the first 15, 20 minutes it was some of the best football I’ve seen this season. We moved the ball really well and started at a pace that was electrifying and made it really difficult for our opponents.
“We looked really threatening but then we came down a couple of gears. At half time we wanted them to go and get those levels back but I was probably a little underwhelmed with the second-half performance. We allowed the game to fizzle out. We’re just off the back of a break but this was an opportunity to show the levels we can get to. But the reality is we’re delighted with the three points.
“Coming off the back of a week which has been tricky because of the conditions and having to change training times to adapt, we have three points and six goals. But it could have been more.”
Rangers boss Jo Potter was delighted with the emphatic start to the year from her side. She said: “You could see the definite improvement in our performance. It looked more like a Rangers performance from our perspective, what we’ve been used to.
“It was really pleasing to see; it is always nice to score lots of goals and get the confidence back up because it was exactly what we needed.”
Celtic found Thistle tough to dismiss. The Hoops went into the break a goal ahead after Saoirse Noonan’s opener but the Jags levelled through Carla Boyce before Noonan restored Celtic’s lead. Kelly Clark then added a third and Maria McAneny a fourth before Demi Falconer netted with a header in the closing minute.
Hibs dismissed Spartans 6-0 while Paul Brownlie’s Motherwell took a significant step towards consolidating a top-six place with a 6-1 victory over Dundee United.