Park’s Motor Group SWPL and SWPL 2 set for super Sunday

This Sunday (21st May 2023) is the final day of the Park’s Motor Group SWPL and SWPL 2. There’s plenty to play for with the SWPL title, SWPL relegation play-off, and the SWPL 2 promotion play-off spot all undecided.

In Park’s Motor Group SWPL, three teams have a chance of lifting the league trophy on the final day.

Glasgow City will start the day as favourites given their two-point lead (80 points) over their closest rivals, Rangers and Celtic. A win at Ibrox against Rangers will ensure they are the champions for a record 16^th time. However, they are yet to defeat Rangers this season having drawn twice before the split and suffering late defeat back in April.

A draw for Glasgow City could be enough to lift the trophy. Given their inferior goal difference to their rivals, they would rely on Celtic failing to beat Hearts. A draw would mean they finish above Rangers though await their final position based on the result at Celtic Park.

The worst-case scenario for City is suffering defeat on Sunday which could see them out of the top two and missing out on a UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) place for 2023/24.

On the other hand, Rangers know they need to defeat Glasgow City to have any chance of winning the Park’s Motor Group SWPL title and securing their own UWCL spot. A draw or loss will likely see them finish third.

If Rangers are victorious on Sunday, they’ll be keeping one eye on Celtic’s result. Both sides are level on points going into the final day (78 points) with Rangers ahead by one goal on goal difference. Rangers will either need Celtic to fail to win against Hearts or for their goal difference to remain superior.

Across at Celtic Park, Celtic also know they need to win to have any chance of winning the title. They will be strong favourites to beat Hearts with a 100% record this season and winning 6-0 at Oriam in their last meeting. Alongside winning though, they will be looking for goals with the potential of the league being decided on goal difference if Rangers also win at Ibrox.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Park’s Motor Group SWPL will be decided in the following ways and in this order:

• Points
• Goal difference
• Goals scored
• Head-to-head record
• Head-to-head goal difference
• If none the above can be used to separate sides, a play-off match will be used to determine final positions.

At the other end of the table, it goes to the final day to decide who will participate in the SWPL relegation play-off final. Dundee United occupy 10^th place, two points above Hamilton Academical, with the two sides going head-to-head at Gussie Park on Sunday.

Dundee United know that a win or a draw will be enough to guarantee their safety, a result they’ve achieved in every meeting with Accies this season. Their last two matches have ended as a draw with United winning the first meeting back in September 3-2 at the same venue for Sunday.

Hamilton Academical though have been in fine form recently with 10 points from their last five matches. They’ve also scored at least once in every single game since the split and know they must win on Sunday to guarantee their survival for next season.

Who Dundee United or Hamilton Academical will face is still to be decided as the Park’s Motor Group SWPL 2 runner-up is also unconfirmed. Gartcairn, Kilmarnock, Boroughmuir Thistle, and St Johnstone all have a chance to reach the SWPL play-off final.

Gartcairn start the day as favourites as they occupy second (44 points), one point clear of Kilmarnock (43 points) and two clear of Boroughmuir Thistle and St Johnstone (42 points). A win for them against Stirling University will secure their position as runners-up. Results have been mixed though with both sides having been victorious once and the other meeting ending as a draw earlier in the season.

A draw could be enough depending on other results, but a loss would see them knocked off second due to Kilmarnock and St Johnstone playing on the same day.

Sitting in third is Kilmarnock while St Johnstone are fifth. For either team to finish second on Sunday, results will need to go in their favour. For Kilmarnock, they need to better Gartcairn’s result due to their super goal difference.

For St Johnstone, it’s a more complicated set of circumstances required. A win will see them climb above Kilmarnock and they’ll go above Boroughmuir Thistle by simply bettering their result. However, bettering Gartcairn’s result may not be enough due to Gartcairn’s superior goal difference. Therefore, St Johnstone will most likely need to win by a few goals and hope other results go their way.

Boroughmuir Thistle are in a similar position to St Johnstone and have a tough home tie against champions Montrose. However, Thistle have the best goal difference of all four teams that a win and bettering Gartcairn’s and Kilmarnock’s results will likely see them finish second and in the promotion play-off spot.