It could not be tighter at the top of the SWPL with FOUR teams all level on points heading into the title run-in.
Rangers – who beat Partick Thistle 6-0 on Sunday afternoon – lead the pack by virtue of a vastly superior goal difference. But they are level on points with Glasgow, Celtic and Hibs. With City and Celtic cancelling one another out on Friday night as they fought out a 2-2 draw, Rangers and Hibs duly took their chance to make up ground in the table.
There were six different goalscorers for Jo Potter’s side with Mia McAulay netting the opener. Rio Hardy claimed the second, Demi Falconer turned the ball into her own net before the break. Rangers finished the game with a flurry of goals as Kathy Hill, Kirsty Howat and Camille Lafaix netting in the closing stages of the game. And Jo Potter has said that the killer instinct Rangers have shown this season is fuelled by the hurt of losing the title last season by a single goal.
They now have a superior goal difference of 18 over Glasgow City and 26 over Celtic. “As I keep saying, we felt the hurt last season of the goal difference,” said Potter.
“We don’t want to feel that again this year. We have learned from it and we have a lot of different goalscorers. We have people really performing and wanting to perform. It is important we get a good balance now. There isn’t a lot of opportunities to give them some down time so we will let them recharge the batteries as well as doing some training. It is important we really do our work because when there are fewer players in, you can really do your work.”
Hibs beat Montrose 2-0 to also keep pace with the top four now all level on points. Rosie Livingston netted just before the break for Grant Scott’s side before Kathleen McGovern added a second in the 90th minute. “We are delighted to be in the discussion just now,” said Grant Scott. “The other teams have bigger budgets than us but we are fighting away just now.
“We are going under the radar, picking up victories and nothing scares us. We have got a bit of time to prepare now for the game against Celtic after the international break.”
Motherwell’s 4-2 win over Aberdeen confirms Paul Brownlie’s side in the top six. Rachel Todd opened the scoring for Motherwell before a Toni Leigh-Finnegan brace gave Aberdeen the lead at the break.
The dismissal of Aberdeen’s Niamh Noble just after the hour mark changed the game with Bailley Collins scored straight from the resulting free-kick. Eilidh Auston put Motherwell in front before Louisa Boyes got a fourth late on to ensure the win – and a top six place – for Motherwell.
Elsewhere, Hearts beat Queen’s Park 6-0. Eva Olid’s side are six points off the top four. At the bottom, Dundee United’s miserable season continued as Spartans beat them 6-1.