SWPL Team of the Week – 21st January

Team of the Week from the Sky Sports Cup and ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 games played on Friday 19th and Sunday 21st.

Goalkeeper – Khym Ramsay (Glasgow Women)

A clean sheet coupled up with an important win for Glasgow Women away to Boroughmuir Thistle, Khym Ramsay earns her spot in the Team of the Week. Making four saves in the match, Ramsay put in a solid performance to help lift her side out of the relegation play-off spot in ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2.

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Defender – Rosie Slater (Partick Thistle)

It’s back-to-back inclusions in the Team of the Week for Rosie Slater after helping Partick Thistle to a historic victory in the Sky Sports Cup Semi-Final. The defender not only helped her side to a clean sheet against a tough Hibernian side, she scored a stunning goal to give her side a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Defender – Bryony Ross (Livingston)

It was a big win for Livingston on Sunday as they defeated Kilmarnock 1-0 in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League, lifting them into the promotion play-off spot. As expected, it was a close match where a mistake or moment of brilliance could be the difference. Thankfully for Livi, Ross put in an outstanding performance in defence to help keep a clean sheet. With over 60% success for passing and dribbling, as well as winning 64% of her duels and making 13 recoveries, it was a solid display from Ross.

Defender – Chloe Craig (Celtic)

While it won’t be a night that Craig will remember too fondly, it was a brave performance from the defender in their 3-2 defeat to Rangers. Giving her side the lead from the spot would be nerve-wracking enough, but Craig stepped up again in the 89th minute to score from a penalty to draw the game level at 2-2. Nerves of steel.

Defender – Charmaine McGuire (Glasgow Women)

Given the clean sheet and win for Glasgow Women on Sunday, against a side unbeaten since October, it’s only right that two players are included in the Team of the Week. McGuire joins Ramsay for her defensive exploits on Sunday, playing the full 103 minutes in their 2-0 win. The defender boasted a 65% success short passing rate as well as making six interceptions, 16 recoveries, and only losing the ball on three occasions.

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Midfielder – Kirsty MacLean (Rangers)

It’s another Team of the Week for MacLean following an Old Firm match. Thriving off the pressure of a big game, MacLean got Rangers’ second goal of the evening showing incredible composure to make it 2-1. The midfielder had four shots throughout the match including a first half effort that went agonizingly wide as well as boasting a 79% short passing success rate, 67% dribbles successful, 56% duels won, and making nine recoveries.

Midfielder & Star Player – Linzi Taylor (Partick Thistle)

Unsurprisingly, two Partick Thistle players make the cut for Team of the Week after creating history in the Sky Sports Cup. Not only included, Linzi Taylor earns Star Player after her involvement in their 2-0 win over Hibernian. The midfielder worked tirelessly throughout the match and seemed unfazed in the horrible conditions. She was unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty earlier in the match before going on to score the opener from a free-kick and suffer from the foul that saw Leah Eddie sent off for Hibernian. The Jags will now look to keep Taylor on form ahead of the final against Rangers.

Midfielder – Courtney McAvoy (Livingston)

With Ross and co keeping a clean sheet for Livingston on Sunday, they needed a goal to lift them above Kilmarnock. Thankfully for them, a moment of magic from McAvoy gave them just that. On top of providing the vital goal for her side, the midfielder also had a 74% passing success rate, won around 50% of her duels, made nine interceptions, and made 13 recoveries in the match.

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Forward – Abbie Ferguson (Hibernian)

It was a day to forget for Hibernian as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Partick Thistle in the Sky Sports Cup, ending their hope of extending their historic success in the competition. Ferguson was a bright spark for Hibs, putting in a strong performance against her former side. While she couldn’t convert her good play into a goal contribution for her side, it was always going to be an uphill battle at 1-0 down with 10 players for the majority of the game.

Forward – Megan Wands (Gartcairn)

Gartcairn continue their charge towards safety with back-to-back victories in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2. In a somewhat surprise victory at home to league leaders Queen’s Park, Gartcairn came away with a 3-2 win. Megan Wands earns her place with the opening goal of the game, producing another shot on target which was well save, having 83% passing accuracy, and 67% dribbles successful.

Forward – Rachel Rowe (Rangers)

Voted Player of the Match by BBC ALBA, Rachel Rowe put in a strong performance as Rangers reached the final of the Sky Sports Cup Final. Despite not achieving a goal contribution, no one can deny Rowe’s play had a positive impact for her side and was unlucky not to open the scoring. One attempt she dragged just wide while another thundering shot was seemingly tipped onto the bar by the Celtic ‘keeper.