SWPL Team of the Week – 22nd October

Team of the Week from the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on Sunday 22nd October.

Photo by Ian Cairns.

Goalkeeper – Ellie Mitchell (St Johnstone)

One of the only goalkeepers to keep a clean sheet on Sunday, Ellie Mitchell put in a solid performance against her old side. Mitchell made a total of five saves during St Johnstone’s emphatic win over Stirling University with 1.69 expected goals to be conceded, showing the quality of her performance. The win helps catapult the Saints up to fourth and into the top half.

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Defender – Taylor Davis (Queen’s Park)

It was a strong performance from Queen’s Park’s left-back as she kept a clean sheet and produced an assist in their 4-0 win over Gartcairn. Assisting Ellie Kane for the second goal of the game, Davis went wide before producing a wonderful first-time cross into the path of her striker. She was solid in both directions on Sunday with 75% successful dribbles and 67% successful crosses as well as nine interceptions and nine recoveries.

Defender – Carly Girasoli (Heart of Midlothian)

A goal, an assist, and conceding just one goal, it’s hard to ask for much more of your central defender. It was an impressive display from Girasoli as she gave her side a 2-0 lead before providing the assist to restore their two goal advantage. Not only did Girasoli boast an 80% passing accuracy rate but she also came away having won 92% of her duels in a big win for the Jambos.

Defender – Poppy Lawson (Hibernian)

It was a more comfortable day for Hibernian compared to a week ago as their defence enjoyed a quieter afternoon. In a back three, Lawson edges it into the Team of the Week with a solid defensive performance as well as providing an assist for Jorian Baucom. The English defender also had a 77% passing accuracy rate as well as producing an impressive 14 crosses throughout the match.

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Midfielder & Star Player – Ellie Kane (Queen’s Park)

It’s back-to-back inclusions for Kane and her fifth Team of the Week this season. In yet another incredible performance, she played a role in every goal as Queen’s Park defeated Gartcairn 4-0. Playing just 77 minutes the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 top goalscorer had a total of 10 shots, scoring three, as she took her total to 16 goals for the season as well as providing the assist for Abby Callaghan’s opener.

Midfielder – Emily Arthur (Boroughmuir Thistle)

It was an influential performance from Arthur as Boroughmuir Thistle recorded a 4-1 away win against Glasgow Women. Showing determination and pace to provide the assist for the opener, Arthur went on to covert the penalty and put the icing on the cake with the final goal for her side showing good composure inside the box. It’s a result which helped more her side out of the relegation play-off spot and above Stirling University.

Midfielder – Kirsty MacLean (Rangers)

Having become a first team regular this season, MacLean continues to excel at Rangers and played a pivotal role in their win over Celtic on Sunday. Having gone behind early in the second half, MacLean brought the sides level with under an hour played as she found herself in the right place before a composed finish. With five shots, an 80% passing accuracy rate, and 75% of dribbles successful, MacLean played in a more advanced role that paid dividends for her side to go to the top of the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League.

Midfielder – Katie Lockwood (Heart of Midlothian)

The second Hearts player included this week was effectively responsible for the goals that Girasoli wasn’t. Latching on to the long through ball, Lockwood showed good composure to nudge the ball past Emily Mutch and find the net for the opener. She then put the game out of sight with another clever run and finish to make it 4-1 before turning provider for the final goal as she unselfishly squared the ball to Eilidh Davies. Sunday’s performance puts Lockwood onto five goals for the season as Hearts look to hold on to fourth again this season.

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Forward – Lauryn Reside (Kilmarnock)

Kilmarnock pushed themselves clear of Livingston with a 4-2 win at Rugby Park as they now sit six points clear of the West Lothian side. Reside bagged a brace for Killie, finding herself in the right place to finish the opener before making it 4-1 with a strong run and finish. With an expected xG of just 0.38 from three shots, Reside was in clinical form for Kilmarnock in one of their biggest matches of the season.

Forward – Eilidh Begg (St Johnstone)

While Mitchell was stopping goals for St Johnstone, Eilidh Begg was scoring them on Sunday. The forward was eventually awarded her hat-trick after a review from the dubious goal panel regarding her final goal. Begg boasted 86% dribbles successful, won 62% of her duels, and made five recoveries in the opponents half to push St Johnstone into the top half of the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2.

Forward – Eilidh Adams (Hibernian)

Adams scored the first professional hat-trick of her career in Hibernian’s 8-1 win over Hamilton Accies in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League. All from inside the box, the forward showed her clinical nature as she scored three goals from just five shots in the match to help Hibs climb up to fifth in the table.