SWPL Team of the Week – 11th February

Team of the Week from the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on Wednesday 7th and Sunday 11th February.

Written by Jack Donnelly.

Goalkeeper – Ava Easdon (Partick Thistle)

Brian Graham’s side recorded back to back clean sheets over the last week, thanks in no small part to goalkeeper Ava Easdon. The 17-year-old shot stopper has performed admirably during her short career thus far, and was on form to record two shutouts against Spartans and, notably, league leaders Rangers, making nine saves across the two fixtures.

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Defender – Lizzie Waldie (Heart of Midlothian)

While Hearts may have narrowly lost to Rangers in their midweek clash, the Jambos bounced back with a resounding 4-0 win over Aberdeen, with Lizzie Waldie a key performer in both matches. Not the 24-year-old’s first TOTW appearance, the defender finds herself included after winning an immense 34 duels across both matches, making an equally-impressive 28 recoveries of possession, and, of course, picking herself up a goal.

Defender – Katie McCabe (Boroughmuir Thistle)

It was a triumphant return to action for Boroughmuir Thistle defender Kate McCabe on Sunday, as her side ran out 2-1 winners against Livingston to move within a point of The Lions, with McCabe standing out amongst her teammates. The 25-year-old made six interceptions, won 12 duels, and recovered possession 11 times as Thistle picked up three invaluable points.

Defender – Kathryn Hill (Rangers)

Rangers have continued to go about their business at the top of the SWPL table, extending their unbeaten run to 20 with victory over Hearts and a draw away against Partick Thistle, thanks in no small part to a rock-solid defensive unit marshalled by Katherine Hill. The centre back averaged a pass completion rate of 80% across both games, won 20 duels and made 28 recoveries of possession as Rangers kept their goals conceded in the single figures for another week.

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Midfielder – Ellie Cowie (St Johnstone)

St. Johnstone ran out victorious against Gartcairn on Sunday afternoon, picking up three points to keep up with the playoff-chasing pack, with Ellie Cowie bagging herself a brace. The winger nodded in the opener, before drawing the Saints level in the 80th minute with a cool finish through the legs of Jasmine McPhie, giving her side the belief to go on and grab a late victory.

Midfielder – Rebecca Taylor (Hamilton Academical)

Hamilton claimed a precious victory in the Lanarkshire Derby on Sunday afternoon, running out 2-1 winners over rivals Motherwell, with young midfielder Rebecca Taylor taking plaudits for her performance. The 17-year-old picked up an assist after sliding through Josi Giard for her looping finish over Emily Mutch and played on the front foot from the first minute, successfully winning 14 duels.

Midfielder – Ronaigh Douglas (Spartans)

After a narrow loss against Partick Thistle, Spartans bounced back with a thumping 6-0 win against Dundee United, with Ronaigh Douglas heavily involved in both fixtures from the centre of the park. After winning 12 duels and making 13 recoveries against Partick, Douglas provided an excellent base for her creative teammates to build on, marshalling the midfield with 10 duels won and 11 recoveries made. She also got on the scoresheet for the first time this season, firing in an absolute cracker from 25 yards.

Midfielder – Lauren Davidson (Glasgow City)

Champions Glasgow City made it eight league wins on the bounce over the last week, running out victorious against both Hamilton and Montrose, with Lauren Davidson a key contributor in both fixtures. Last season’s Golden Boot winner picked up her 12th goal of the season against Hamilton, and also set up one of City’s other five. While she didn’t find the back of the next against Montrose, Davidson ran rampant down the right flank, completing 11 dribbles, while also getting stuck right into challenges, winning 28 duels across both matches.

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Forward – Natasha Flint (Celtic)

English striker Natasha Flint returned to Celtic at the end of the January window to much excitement from the green side of Glasgow, and scored her first goal since her arrival against Hibernian on Sunday afternoon. Awarded Player of the Match on the BBC Alba broadcast, Flint opened the scoring with a composed finish past Nina Wilson, before forcing an own goal from Ellis Notley to add Celtic’s third towards the end of the first half.

Forward – Jordan McLintock (Kilmarnock)

Kilmarnock kept their noses in front of the chasing pack in second with a 3-2 win over Glasgow Women, with Jordan McLintock scoring twice to secure all three points. The forward opened the scoring with a close-range volley, before doubling her – and Killie’s – tally with a flick past Khym Ramsay before crashing an effort into the top left corner.

Forward & Star Player – Ami Robertson (Queen’s Park)

If we awarded a club with Star Team after every gameweek, this week’s would undoubtedly go to Queen’s Park, who fired 12 goals past a helpless Stirling University, with four of those goals going to Star Player Ami Robertson. More than doubling her xG of 1.87, Robertson was on target with all five or her shots on goal, while also going perfect with her attempted dribbles, completing four of four.