Scottish Women’s Premier League announce Post-split Fixtures

The Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) has announced the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League (SPWPL) and ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 (SPWPL 2) post-split fixtures, which get underway from Sunday 15th of March.

The initial 18 rounds of fixtures concluded in both the SPWPL and SPWPL 2 on Sunday 22nd of February, and it is shaping up to be one of the tightest conclusions to a season yet, with compelling stories at both ends of the table for each division. The leagues will now split into a top-six and bottom-four for the first time, following the League restructure which was introduced this Season.

Current SPWPL league leaders Glasgow City begin their post-split fixtures facing Partick Thistle in the Petershill Park derby. Leanne Ross’ side enter this next phase of matches unbeaten so far this season, with a five-point lead at the top of the table. Partick Thistle go into this game having clinched a top-six spot, with a 94^th minute winner against Hamilton on matchday 18.  Reigning champions, Hibernian, begin the opening round with a tricky away tie to Celtic. There was nothing to separate the sides when they first met this season, however the Glasgow side secured the three points when the two sides met in the return fixture at Meadowbank, in December.

Hearts will host Rangers at Oriam in their opening match post-split which promises to be another entertaining fixture in the hunt for the title, and this match will be broadcast live on BBC ALBA.

BBC ALBA have also selected the round 20 fixture between Celtic and Glasgow City. These sides always deliver high-octane, hard-fought matches and this one is sure to be no different as both sides, previous champions of this competition, aim to reclaim the title.

In a dress rehearsal of the Sky Sports Cup Final, the BBC ALBA cameras will also capture the clash of the current top two, Rangers v Glasgow City, on Sunday 22 March. Both teams will be out to lay down a marker and potentially strike a psychological blow ahead of the first opportunity for silverware this season.

BBC Sport Scotland will stream the first of the two remaining Edinburgh derbies of the season, also on Sunday 22 March. Hearts currently hold the bragging rights, having won the first two derbies by a two-goal margin, but Hibernian will be out for redemption this time around.

Looking ahead to the final day of the season (Sunday 24 May), which in trademark SPWPL fashion, promises to be another season-defining day, Celtic host Partick Thistle, Glasgow City welcome Rangers, and Hibernian are at home to Edinburgh neighbours Heart of Midlothian.

In the bottom four, Montrose, who narrowly missed out on a top-six spot, will host Hamilton Academical at Links Park on matchday 19. The sides played out a 1-1 draw last time out when they met at New Douglas Park. Aberdeen will open their post-split campaign by hosting Motherwell at the Balmoral Stadium, aiming to climb out of the relegation play-off spot.

The final day of the season in the SPWPL bottom four (Sunday 17 May) will see the reversal of the above opening split fixtures, as all four teams could still have the prospect of survival to play for, at that stage.

In the SPWPL 2, the opening weekend of the inaugural split in this division, will see Kilmarnock host Dundee United to begin their post-split fixtures. Jim Chapman’s side are unbeaten in the league so far this season and will have high hopes of gaining promotion back to the top-flight for the first time since 2012. Dundee United are one of the few sides Kilmarnock have dropped points to, with a goalless draw when they first met this season and they will be hoping to replicate or better that in their hunt to book a play-off spot.

Spartans, who currently sit in second place in the table, will welcome Boroughmuir Thistle to the Vanloq Community Stadium on matchday 19 in the all-Edinburgh tie. The final top-six opening fixture sees Gartcairn host Queen’s Park.

On the final day of the season (Sunday 17 May), Boroughmuir Thistle host Gartcairn, Queen’s Park are at home to Kilmarnock and Spartans face Dundee United, as all the top-six clubs will be striving for promotion to the SPWPL for next season, either via automatic promotion or the newly-extended play-off system.

In the bottom four of the SPWPL 2, East Fife begin the split at home to St Johnstone while Livingston welcome the University of Stirling. East Fife picked up a win against St Johnstone at MGM Timber Bayview Stadium earlier this season, with St Johnstone winning the return at McDiarmid Park. Livingston have won both their meetings against University of Stirling in the season so far.

On the final day of the season, the reverse fixtures take place, with St Johnstone hosting East Fife and Livingston travelling to the University of Stirling, with all teams playing to maintain their SPWPL status for another season.

Fiona McIntyre, SWPL Managing Director, said: “It was an incredibly exciting weekend of action in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League with Partick Thistle securing the final spot in the top-six with a late winner at Petershill Park. We are now delighted to publish the post-split fixtures which we’re sure will deliver yet more drama with all teams chasing titles, play-off spots, or aiming to avoid relegation across both leagues.

“With so much to play for at both ends of the table across the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League and ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2, we encourage all supporters to get along and support their club or tune in to the pick of the action on BBC ALBA and BBC Sport Scotland as we enter the final rounds of the season.”