Park’s Motor Group SWPL Team of the Week – 30th April

Team of the Week from games played on Sunday 30th April.

Written by Jack Donnelly

Goalkeeper – Emily Mutch (Motherwell)

Away trips to the Balmoral Stadium can be tricky at the best of times, but Motherwell stopper Mutch put in an assured performance to keep a clean sheet on Sunday afternoon. Mutch was up against a hungry Aberdeen frontline, and made seven saves leading to her impressive shutout. She was equally impressive in her distribution, ending the match with a pass accuracy of 89%.

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Defender – Chloe Craig (Celtic)

On a very successful weekend for Celtic fans, captain Chloe Craig marshalled a composed defence in her side’s dominant 3-0 win over Hibernian. Craig netted the second goal of the game as she got on the end of an Amy Gallacher corner, while also keeping a pass accuracy of 88%, making 14 recoveries, winning 12 duels and intercepting the ball seven times.

Defender – Jenna Penman (Heart of Midlothian)

It was a busy afternoon for Jenna Penman and her defensive colleagues in Hearts’ 1-1 draw with title-chasing Rangers, but the young defender performed admirably to keep Eva Olid’s side in with a fighting chance. Playing alongside Emma Brownlie, Penman made 11 recoveries, won 10 duels and made 15 interceptions as Hearts secured a hard-earned point against the champions.

Defender – Leigha Dobbins (Dundee United)

With Hamilton eager to gain ground on Dundee United in order to escape the relegation play-off place, a huge effort from the Terrors’ back line – and 18-year-old Dobbins – to make sure they left New Douglas Park with a point. The full back was heavily involved on the left flank, as she won 16 duels, made 14 recoveries and a further 11 interceptions.

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Midfielder & Star Player – Louise Brown (Montrose)

A second consecutive TOTW appearance for Montrose’s Louise Brown, as she and her side wrapped up their second straight promotion by securing the Park’s Motor Group SWPL 2 title against East Fife this weekend. The playmaker bagged herself a hat trick of assists while playing fairly deep – she also won 12 duels and made 20 recoveries in a thoroughly industrious and influential performance.

Midfielder – Alix Moodie (St Johnstone)

With a last-gasp win away against Queen’s Park at the weekend, the Saints put a little bit of breathing room between themselves and Kilmarnock, thanks in no small part to Alix Moodie. The midfielder won nine duels and made seven recoveries throughout the match, while also creating both of her side’s goals.

Midfielder – Lauren Kerr (Gartcairn)

In what was a huge three points for playoff frontrunners Gartcairn at the weekend, Lauren Kerr was both combative and creative in ensuring her side came away with the win against Kilmarnock. She scored Gartcairn’s winning goal, with Rosa McQueen unable to hold her drive from range, and was successful with 80% of her dribbles. Furthermore, Kerr won 22 duels, made 22 recoveries and 17 interceptions in Gartcairn’s engine room.

Midfielder – Lauren Davidson (Glasgow City)

The Park’s Motor Group SWPL top scorer grabbed her first goal in five games in City’s 2-0 win over Petershill Park rivals Partick Thistle at the weekend, and looked typically threatening throughout the 90 minutes. Davidson was aggressive and direct, completing nine dribbles, finding the target with 75% of her crosses and winning 14 duels over the course of the game.

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Forward – Mya Bates (Spartans)

On her 18th birthday, Spartans forward Mya Bates proved decisive as her side ran out 1-0 winners over Glasgow Women at New Tinto Park. Playing off the left wing, Bates netted the sole goal of the match – her first for Spartans – early in the first half, after getting on the end of a Caley Gibb cut-back, before turning creator for the remainder of the game, regularly beating the fullback and finding teammates with her crosses.

Forward – Eilidh Austin (Hamilton Academical)

In a huge game at the bottom of the Park’s Motor Group SWPL table, Hamilton needed a result in order to keep pace with their opponents, Dundee United – thanks to Eilidh Austin’s first-half strike, they did just that. The youngster – who has seen use all over the pitch for Gary Doctor this season, was in the right place at the right time to ensure that Josie Giard’s chip crossed the line, and was a potent attacking weapon throughout the match, completing six dribbles and also winning 27 duels.

Forward – Samantha Duncan (Boroughmuir Thistle)

As Thistle romped past Stirling University over the weekend, teammates were following the performance of striker Samantha Duncan, who led the charge – and the line – admirably. She netted Thistle’s fourth of the afternoon, coolly rounding Victoria Scarratt before slotting into the empty net, tested Stirling’s keeper a further three times throughout the match and completed three dribbles past opposing players.