SWPL Team of the Week – 15th & 17th November

Team of the Week from ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on Friday 15th and Sunday 17th November.

Written by Jack Donnelly.

Goalkeeper – Jenni Currie (Partick Thistle)

Partick Thistle’s patchy form continued over the weekend, with the Jags coming from behind to earn themselves a 1-1 draw with Motherwell. The most encouraging aspect of Partick’s performance was Jeni Currie’s impressive display in between the sticks, with the goalkeeper putting in a shift to keep her side in the game and limit Motherwell to a single goal. The 28-year-old shot stopper made six saves, and helped her teammates build from the back, with 15 of her 17 goal kicks going short to one of her defenders.

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Defender – Jenna Penman (Motherwell)

As mentioned in Jennifer Currie’s profile for this week’s team, Motherwell played out a 1-1 draw with Partick Thistle, with the Lanarkshire side keeping their opponents at bay for most of the match, conceding only two shots on target. This was due to a well-organised defence, marshalled most effectively by Jenna Penman, who excelled at centre back. Making 11 interceptions, winning 16 duels and recovering possession 24 times, the 21-year-old helped to ensure Motherwell walked away with a point.

Defender – Jayden Simmons (Boroughmuir Thistle)

Boroughmuir Thistle recorded a massive win on Sunday afternoon, with a single goal seeing them victorious against Kilmarnock, moving the Edinburgh side just one point behind their opponents in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 table. Kilmarnock were limited to just six shots against Boroughmuir, with the majority coming from outside the box, thanks to a strong performance from the home defence, and Jayden Simmons in particular. The 23-year-old won 11 duels and made 17 recoveries in a dominant defensive display.

Defender – Niamh Noble (Aberdeen)

After a pair of heavy defeats against Hibernian and Motherwell, Scott Booth picked up his first league victory as Aberdeen head coach on Sunday, as the Dons ran out 2-1 winners away against Dundee United. With the Terrors only managing three shots in almost 100 minutes of action, there were plenty of plaudits for Aberdeen’s defenders, with Niamh Noble deserving of the most praise. Not only did the left back win 14 duels and make 12 recoveries of possession, but she sent in the corner for Emily Kraft to head in the winning goal.

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Midfielder – Nicola Carter (Gartcairn)

Gartcairn enjoyed a successful Sunday outing, running out 4-0 winners against Ayr United at home, and pushing them further away from the teams at the bottom end of the table. Nicole Carter put in an impressive shift in the middle of the park, causing problems for Ayr any time they tried to go forward. The 25-year-old won 17 of her duels and made 23 recoveries of possession in a commanding midfield display.

Midfielder – Ciara Grant (Hibernian)

Grant Scott’s side put their recent derby woes to bed on Sunday evening, as Hibernian ran out 1-0 winners against Hearts at Tynecastle, with Rosie Livingstone’s late winner earning them the bragging rights. In a battling performance from the Edinburgh sides, Ciara Grant fought hardest to help her side get over the line with all three points. Making a league-high 17 interceptions, winning 12 duels, and making 17 recoveries, Grant served to frustrate Hearts from the first whistle, and did so with great success.

Midfielder – Olivia McLoughlin (Rangers)

In Sunday’s crucial Old Firm clash, Rangers took the spoils in an exciting 3-2 victory for the blue side of Glasgow. It was no surprise to see a real fight between the league’s fiercest rivals, with Rangers’ Olivia McLoughlin coming out victorious in many of her individual battles throughout the match. The 20-year-old midfielder has seen plenty of football so far this season, but looked completely fresh as she completed 84% of passes, won 11 duels, and made 13 recoveries of possession as Jo Potter’s side opened up a four-point gap on Celtic.

Midfielder – Megan Whiteford (Rossvale)

Rossvale have gone without a win for three months, but ended their drought with a 5-2 victory against Livingston on Sunday afternoon, pushing them four points clear of St. Johnstone in the relegation play-off place. Speaking of ending droughts, Megan Whiteford scored her first goals since Rossvale’s opening day victory against Kilmarnock, doubling her tally for the season with a brace, with her looping strike from the edge of the box being followed by a second-half penalty to help send Rossvale on their way to a much-needed victory.

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Forward – Nicola Kozlova (Glasgow City)

This week’s highest scorers in the top flight, Glasgow City enjoyed themselves in their 6-1 win against Queen’s Park, maintaining their place at the top of the table. Shining brightest amongst City’s stars was Nicole Kozlova, with the forward bagging herself a hat trick, displaying some impressive close-range finishing. Kozlova also set up Hayley Lauder early in the first half, and was accurate with 83% of her passes.

Forward & Star Player – Hannah Jordan (Spartans)

Spartans returned from the international break with a bang, running out 3-0 winners against Montrose and putting themselves three points behind the top-six. Those three goals all came through Hannah Jordan, who has enjoyed a real purple patch recently, with Sunday’s hat trick taking her to six goals in her last five games. The 20-year-old striker also completed eight dribbles and won 13 duels in a very impressive performance, deserving of this week’s Star Player award.

Forward – Vivienne Strain (Hamilton Academical)

Hamilton pulled 11 points clear at the top of ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 last weekend, and continued scoring for fun, firing six past St. Johnstone on Friday night at New Douglas Park. In her very first start for Hamilton, 16-year-old Vivienne Strain was able to score her first goals for the club, grabbing a brace with two composed finishes past Jodie Baker in the St. Johnstone goal. With twin sister Justine having scored her first goal for the club in the last round of fixtures, Robert Watson will be delighted to have the pair at his disposal as Accies continue their march towards promotion.