SWPL Team of the Week – 30th August & 1st September

Team of the Week from the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on Friday 30th August and Sunday 1st September.

Written by Jack Donnelly.

Goalkeeper – Erin Halliday (Hamilton Academical)

The second tier of women’s football took a break this weekend, as the eight SWPL 2 clubs clashed in the first round of the Sky Sports Cup, with table-topping Hamilton Accies carrying their unbeaten start to the season into the cup. Accies welcomed Kilmarnock to New Douglas Park and, despite going a goal behind, won the tie with goals from Abby Skelton and Sophie Townsley proving the difference. However, the debut performance of Erin Halliday in the Hamilton goal may have been the true deciding factor, with the 17-year-old looking sharp throughout the match and making a string of saves to help set up a Lanarkshire derby in the second round.

————————

Defender – Caitlin Hayes (Celtic)

For the first time this season, champions Celtic dropped points, as Hibernian held the green side of Glasgow to a 0-0 draw at The Albert Bartlett Stadium in Airdrie. However, as we saw last season, goal difference is crucial in a ScottishPower Women’s Premier League title race, and Caitlin Hayes helped to marshall Celtic’s back line and keep Hibs from breaking through. The centre back won 12 duels and made 14 recoveries, and also maintained a pass accuracy of 84%, as Celtic denied their opponents from breaching their defences.

Defender – Gerogia Carter (Montrose)

After four straight defeats to kick off their league campaign, last season’s surprise package Montrose picked up a welcome win against Queen’s Park on Sunday afternoon, with Craig Feroz’s side running out 3-0 victors on the day. While the Mighty Mo’s three goals ultimately decided the match, the victory would have been nowhere near as comfortable without an impressive defensive display, particularly from Georgia Carter. The 24-year-old misplaced just four passes, won 17 duels, and made 24 recoveries in a commanding performance in the heart of defence.

Defender – Emma Brownlie (Heart of Midlothian)

Hearts recorded another impressive victory on Sunday afternoon as the maroon side of Edinburgh ran out 6-1 winners against Motherwell at the Oriam. Amongst a number of strong showings from Eva Olid’s side, one of the most impressive showings at both ends of the pitch came from Emma Brownlie, as she scored her first two goals of the season and set up another, supplying the assist for Georgia Timms’ opener. She also misplaced just four passes for a completion rate of 93%, and made nine recoveries of possession

————————

Midfielder – Francesca Ogilvie (Aberdeen)

Aberdeen and Partick Thistle battled to a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon, with the point pushing the Dons up above Queen’s Park into 9th place in the table. Francesca Ogilvie made a decent showing of herself in Sunday’s match, with the young winger scoring her side’s second goal, cutting in from the right to curl an effort into the far corner. Ogilvie was also combative on the flank, winning 12 duels and making 11 recoveries.

Midfielder – Ciara Grant (Hibernian)

Hibernian maintained their undefeated start to the 2024/25 against last season’s champions, as Grant Scott’s side travelled to Airdrie to play out a 0-0 draw against Celtic. Summer signing Ciara Grant provided an enormous presence in the heart of the Hibs midfield, always on hand to interfere with Celtic attacks. Grant won 16 duels and made 12 recoveries, and also kept things ticking over nicely with a pass completion rate of 78%.

Midfielder – Amy Bulloch (Partick Thistle)

As previously mentioned, Partick Thistle welcomed Aberdeen to Firhill on Sunday afternoon, and came from behind to earn themselves a point in a 2-2 draw. Battling away in the middle of the park for Brian Graham’s side was Amy Bulloch, who assisted Thistle’s first goal of the game, as her cross found Emma Lawton’s head at the back post. Bulloch also completed 81% of passes, won nine duels, and made 10 recoveries as Thistle showed their character to come from behind.

Midfielder – Tara McGonigle (Gartcairn)

Gartcairn were thoroughly convincing in their 7-0 win over St. Johnstone at MTC Park in the first round of the Sky Sports Cup. Among the six goalscorers for Graeme Hart’s side on Sunday afternoon, it was Tara McGonigle who stood out most amongst the free-scoring forward line. The versatile midfielder was deployed on the flank for this clash, and ran St. Johnstone ragged, with every bursting run forward causing chaos among the visitors’ back line. McGonigle grabbed a goal for her troubles, and played a big hand in several others in a performance to be proud of.

————————

Forward – Kaitlyn Canavan (Livingston)

This week’s Star Player, Livingston’s Kaitlyn Canavan was making just her second start for the club having joined from Motherwell at the end of August, and has wasted no time in settling into her new surroundings in West Lothian. Facing a familiar opponent in Ayr United, who Livi had bested in the league just a week ago, it was goals galore at Townhead Park, with Canavan scoring four in her side’s 7-3 win. Boroughmuir Thistle are set to welcome Livingston in the second round, and if Canavan can continue to perform at this level, the Edinburgh side may need to spend training focussing on a plan to stop her.

Forward – Laura Berry (Rangers)

Another week, another barrel of goals for Rangers, and another match ball going home with one of Jo Potter’s strikers. However, despite Katie Wilkinson scoring another hat trick, Laura Berry gets the nod over her teammate this week, with the youngster scoring three of her own and setting up two more, having a hand in half of Rangers’ goals in their 10-0 win over Dundee United. The 17-year-old also completed 82% of passes and won 10 duels, showing just how energetic Berry was up front for Rangers this weekend.

Forward – Becky Galbraith (Boroughmuir Thistle)

After leaving Spartans this summer, Becky Galbraith didn’t have to travel too far to find her next club, swapping Pilton for Meadowbank as she joined Boroughmuir Thistle, and scored her first goals since her debut this weekend as her side ran out 4-1 winners against Rossvale in the Sky Sports Cup. After being felled for the penalty that drew Thistle level, Galbraith fired in two of her own to ease her side into the second round, where a home clash against Livingston awaits