Park’s Motor Group SWPL Team of the Week – 7th May

Team of the Week from games played from Wednesday 3rd to Sunday 7th May.

Written by Jack Donnelly

Goalkeeper – Jodie Baker (Stirling University)

After battling back from two goals down to earn a point against East Fife in midweek, Stirling University bagged an impressive three points against Queen’s Park at the weekend, thanks in no small part to the goalkeeping efforts of Jodie Baker. The 20-year-old was cool and composed throughout the 90 minutes, making four saves from four shots on target, and showcased some solid distribution, as she recorded a pass accuracy of 71%.

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Defender – Caitlin Hayes (Celtic)

DThere’s leaving it late, and then there’s leaving it until five minutes into stoppage time to make sure you keep hold of second place with three games to go in the season – step up, Caitlyn Hayes. After heading the opening goal into the bottom right corner in the first half, Hayes latched onto a deep Chloe Craig free kick and nodded the ball past Megan Cunningham to not only keep level with Rangers, but keep Celtic’s title hopes alive. The centre back also won 38 duels and made 25 recoveries across her two fixtures.

Defender – Rachel McLauchlan (Rangers)

The champions recorded two narrow 1-0 wins in the last week, against Celtic and Hibernian respectively, and full back McLauchlan shone as a key component in both victories. Across the pair of fixtures, McLauchlan averaged a pass accuracy of 74%, made 20 interceptions, won 30 duels and made a further 25 recoveries as she kept both her title-chasing Old Firm rivals, and an energetic Hibs front line, at bay.

Defender – Georgia Carter (Montrose)

The 23-year-old centre back had a busy couple of games, as Montrose took their total of undefeated matches in the league to 23 games with a 1-1 draw with Gartcairn and a 3-2 win over St. Johnstone, with Carter scoring the injury time winner in Perth. She also grabbed an assist in that game, with her free kick finding Louise Brown for the opening goal, and was a real defensive force across both fixtures, winning 26 duels and making 33 recoveries.

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Midfielder – Eilidh Shore (Aberdeen)

It’s been some week for 21-year-old Eilidh Shore, as she not only scored twice in two games for Aberdeen as kept respectable distance between themselves and the sides below, but also secured a hat trick of trophies at the Dons’ Player of the Year awards night. The Player – and Players’ Player – of the Year scored the Dons’ fourth from close range in a 5-1 win over Glasgow Women, before scoring a fantastic effort from range in a 6-2 loss to Spartans. She also won 30 duels and made 24 recoveries across both matches.

Midfielder – Kinga Kozak (Glasgow City)

At the top of the league, with plenty of pressure from Celtic and Rangers, leaders Glasgow City picked up six massive points against Hibernian and Hearts, with Kozak orchestrating the play from the middle of the park. The Poland internationalist opened the scoring against Hibs with a finish into the top left, before sending a cross into the box that Emily Whelan converted to double City’s advantage. The playmaker also averaged a pass accuracy of a very impressive 83%.

Midfielder – Katherine Smart (Spartans)

Smart spent Spartans’ last two games leading by example from the middle of the park, as she recorded two professional and composed performances in wins over Dundee United and Aberdeen. The veteran midfielder bagged herself a brace in the win over Dundee United, and won 33 duels, made 14 interceptions and made a further 22 recoveries across both matches.

Midfielder – Danni McGinley (Dundee United)

Versatile McGinley and Dundee United have benefitted massively from her more advanced role this season, which was evident across the last two fixtures. Her clever free kick opened the scoring against Spartans, while she restored the Terrors’ two-goal advantage against Motherwell after setting up Jade McLaren late in the first half with a fantastic cross to the back post.

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Forward – Ami Robertson (Gartcairn)

In what were two huge games for Gartcairn, as they look to keep a firm grip on second place, Ami Robertson ensured that Robert McCallum’s side kept their noses in front of the chasing pack, as she scored twice in two games to earn two points for her side. She reacted quickest in the box and lashed a loose ball into the roof of the net after Montrose failed to clear a corner, and netted a late equaliser against Boroughmuir Thistle with a lovely looping finish into the top right corner.

Forward & Star Player – Eilidh Austin (Hamilton Academical)

The young Hamilton striker heard questions being asked as to whether or not she had actually scored against Dundee United – as such, she made sure to find the net four times in her next two matches. Starting with a tremendous hat trick in Hamilton’s 3-1 win over Lanarkshire rivals Motherwell in what was their first derby win of the season, Austin bagged another as Accies saw off Glasgow Women at New Tinto Park.

Forward – Rebecca Galbraith (Spartans)

It’s been a banner week for the Ainslie Park side, as they defeated both Dundee United and Aberdeen, scoring 10 goals across both matches, with the ever-reliable Galbraith bagging a hat trick against the Dons. This trio of goals included Galbraith’s 50th for Spartans, and the striker was also involved in two more of her side’s six goals – a header forced substitute keeper India Marwaha into a save, with Julianne Ross converting the rebound, before she found Mya Bates at the back post with a lovely cross.