SWPL Team of the Week – 10th & 12th May

Team of the Week from the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on Friday 10th and Sunday 12th May.

Written by Jack Donnelly.

Goalkeeper – Victoria Esson (Rangers)

With Celtic running out victorious earlier in the day, Rangers simply had to match their rivals’ result in their clash with Glasgow City. A narrow 1-0 result saw them do so, as Victoria Esson took plenty of plaudits for her performance in goal. The New Zealand internationalist stood strong against a troublesome City front line on plenty of occasions, helping secure a vital three points ahead of a massive week for Jo Potter’s side.

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Defender & Star Player – Natasha Donaghy (Glasgow Women)

It was a week for defenders across both ScottishPower Women’s Premier League and SWPL 2, with Glasgow Women centre back Natasha Donaghy putting on a stellar display in her side’s 4-1 win over Gartcairn. The defender bagged herself a brace and made 11 recoveries in a massively influential performance that helped Glasgow Women avoid automatic relegation, earning her this week’s Star Player award.

Defender – Robyn McCafferty (Spartans)

Spartans were able to put any doubts to bed and secure another season of top-flight football with their 1-0 win over Dundee United at Ainslie Park on Sunday afternoon. Centre back Robyn McCafferty not only led by example in defence, completing 85% of passes and making 14 recoveries of possession, but she also set up Alana Marshall’s winning goal to help guarantee SWPL safety.

Defender – Chelsie Watson (Motherwell)

Remember how we started the last entry? Talking about last minute winners from defenders? Well, Chelsie Watson grabbed one herself, as she rescued a victory for Motherwell away against Aberdeen with the last touch of the ball. With the Dons having mounted a spirited comeback, despite Francesca Oglivie’s dismissal early in the second half, Watson sparked rapturous scenes for those in amber as she nodded home Katie Rice’s corner to fire the Lanarkshire side to the top of the bottom half.

Defender – Gerogie Carter (Montrose)

Not only was it a weekend for the defenders, but it was a weekend for defenders scoring last-minute winners, as Montrose’s Georgia Carter demonstrated against Dundee United. The 24-year-old rose highest in the box to attack a free kick from centre back partner Cassie Cowper, and won out, glancing the ball into the back of the net to snatch all three points.

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Midfielder – Shen Mengyu (Celtic)

Kicking off earlier than their title and city rivals, Celtic set the tone in the title race as they battled to a 3-0 win over Partick Thistle, with Chinese midfielder Shen Mengyu running the show in the middle of the park. The 22-year-old wrapped up proceedings with the third goal of the afternoon, arriving late into the box to volley home a loose headed clearance, to ensure that Celtic would end the weekend at the top of the table going into the final week of the season.

Midfielder – Emma Craig (Queen’s Park)

ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 champions Queen’s Park concluded an unbeaten home campaign with a 1-1 draw with Boroughmuir Thistle on Sunday afternoon, with Emma Craig notching her sixth goal of the season from midfield. The former forward displayed her finishing expertise as she whipped a finish up and over Beth Rennie’s head to kick start celebrations on trophy day at The City Stadium.

Midfielder – Hannah Davie (Livingston)

Heading towards the very end of their debut season in ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2, Livingston ran out 3-0 winners against now-relegated Stirling University, with Hannah Davie playing beyond her years in midfield. The 20-year-old opened the scoring with a lovely looped finish over Regan Ott, before laying on the second goal of the afternoon, with Ashley Fish latching on to a clipped ball over the top and clinically volleying home. The young midfielder also won 13 duels and completed four dribbles across the 90 minutes, as The Lions kept in the hunt for the promotion play-off place.

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Forward – Lucie Burns (Kilmarnock)

Kilmarnock managed to keep their noses in front of fellow play-off chasers Livingston with a 4-2 win over St. Johnstone at Rugby Park on Sunday. Winger Lucie Burns picked up two of her side’s four goals in a blistering performance down the left flank, which also saw her complete an incredible 10 dribbles and win 22 duels, showing just how much of a threat the 17-year-old was providing.

Forward – Kirsty Morrison (Hibernian)

Kicking off this round of fixtures on Friday night, Hibernian saw derby success for the third time this season, as they saw off rivals Hearts 2-0 at Meadowbank. Kirsty Morrison partnered Hibs’ top scorer, Jorian Baucom, up front, and played the American forward in for the opening goal of the evening, which helped the green side of Edinburgh kick off their weekend in the best possible way.

Forward – Bayley Hutchison (Aberdeen)

Leading the way in the SWPL goal-scoring charts, Bayley Hutchison notched her 28th of the league season against Motherwell on Sunday, levelling the match in the process. While it wasn’t to be in the end for The Dons, Hutchison’s performance epitomised the tenacity and spirit that Clinton Lancaster’s side displayed to fight back from two goals down. The 20-year-old forward also misplaced just two passes and won 11 duels throughout the match.