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SWPL Team of the Week – 26th January

  • SWPL
  • SWPL 2

Team of the Week from ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on Sunday 26th January.

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Goalkeeper – Emily Mutch (Motherwell)

Motherwell were able to keep a firm hold on sixth place in the SWPL table on Sunday, with a 4-0 win away against Montrose, but a second-half red card for Chelsie Watson set up a nervy 30 minutes for the Lanarkshire side, despite their three goal advantage. Paul Brownlie needn’t have worried, however, as Emily Mutch put in another assured performance in between the sticks, making six saves to preserve Motherwell’s healthy advantage, and earn herself both a clean sheet, and a place in this team. Both very well deserved, of course.

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Defender – Morgan Cross (Celtic)

While Celtic’s squad has changed somewhat in this winter transfer window, it was one of Elena Sadiku’s summer signings that shone in the champions’ 4-0 win against Hearts on Sunday afternoon. Morgan Cross, who has made most of her appearances in a forward capacity for Celtic, was deployed as a wingback in her most recent outing, and thrived in her third consecutive start. The 23-year-old finished from close range at the end of the first half, and delivered the cross for Shannon McGregor’s opening goal less than 10 minutes into the game. Not a bad way to perform away from your natural position.

Defender – Jade Wilson (Gartcairn)

It’s safe to say that Scotland’s second tier has endured a disjointed start to 2025, with only one full set of fixtures playing out as intended. That said, all but one fixture went ahead as scheduled on Sunday past, with Gartcairn passing Boroughmuir Thistle into third place with a 3-0 win over Livingston. Centre back Jade Wilson excelled in her side’s trip to West Lothian, standing firm and helping limit her opponents to just one shot on target. The 27-year-old won 11 duels (a 92% success rate) and recovered possession 13 times in a stellar defensive performance.

Defender – Aimee Black (Aberdeen)

Aberdeen kept their heads above the murky waters of the relegation zone on Sunday afternoon, opening up a three-point gap on Montrose, running out 3-0 winners at home to strugglers Queen’s Park, earning their first three points of 2025. The Dons took to the pitch at Balmoral Stadium with three at the back, and young defender Aimee Black thrived alongside her fellow centre backs. Just 18 years old, Black has been a first-team regular for Aberdeen this season, and based on her performance on Sunday, it’s clear to see why. A pass accuracy of 95%, nine duels won, and 16 recoveries made – Black is more than deserving of her first team minutes, with plenty more to come.

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Midfielder – Imogen Longcake (Partick Thistle)

Partick Thistle kept pace in the hunt for sixth place on Sunday afternoon, recording a comfortable 4-1 win at home to Dundee United to leave the Glasgow side five points behind Motherwell with a game in hand. The goals came from all over the pitch for Brian Graham’s side, but perhaps the greatest impact for The Jags came in the form of Imogen Longcake. The 25-year-old winger extended Partick’s advantage just after half-time, latching on to a poor goal kick and slotting calmly past Megan Sidey in the United goal, having already notched an assist for Rachel Donaldson’s opening goal.

Midfielder – Leah Sidey (St. Johnstone)

St. Johnstone survived a late scare in their trip to Ayrshire on Sunday afternoon, as a Clare Docherty double threatened a home comeback, but The Saints were able to secure all three points against Ayr United in an eventual 3-2 victory. One of the brightest performers for St. Johnstone over the weekend was new addition Leah Sidey, with the midfielder opening the scoring in the first three minutes with her first goal for her new club, finishing well past the onrushing Charlotte Ferguson. Sidey also won 17 duels and made eight recoveries to further frustrate Ayr and help secure victory for St. Johnstone.

Midfielder & Star Player – Ciara Grant (Hibernian)

Hibernian are the SWPL’s in-form team at the moment, with Grant Scott’s side boasting the longest undefeated streak in the league, stretching back to mid-September, when they lost 3-0 to Glasgow City. Roles were reversed over the weekend, with the Hibees running out 3-1 winners at Meadowbank, with another tremendous performance from Ciara Grant in the middle of the park. Last week’s Star Player is more than deserving of the award once again, as a hat trick of assists ensured that her side would claim a massive victory against the league leaders, narrowing their gap to the top to just two points.

Midfielder – Louisa Boyes (Motherwell)

As previously mentioned, Motherwell deserve plenty of credit for keeping their composure against Montrose after Chelsie Watson’s dismissal, but their forward play put them in a strong position to begin with. Louisa Boyes was at the crux of Motherwell’s success going forward, opening the scoring in the first 10 minutes with a looping header that stayed out of Kirsten Pratt’s reach. The midfielder also completed 79% of her passes, won 15 duels and made 11 recoveries in an industrious performance in the engine room.

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Forward – Katie Wilkinson (Rangers)

With Glasgow City dropping points against Hibernian on Sunday, Rangers’ 3-0 win away against Spartans moved them just two points behind their title rivals. A turgid first half, that saw the sides head into half time goalless, was bookended by Kate Fraser’s late red card, with Katie Wilkinson taking full advantage in the second half. The league’s top scorer added two more to her already impressive tally, taking the 30-year-old to 26 goals in her maiden SWPL campaign thus far, with a flicked header and a clinical first-time finish condemning Spartans to defeat.

Forward – Kathleen McGovern (Hibernian)

Sunday saw Hibernian record yet another impressive result against one of the title challengers, and, just like she did against Rangers at the end of 2024, Kathleen McGovern struck quickly to put her side into the lead. The striker peeled away from a defender to head Ciara Grant’s free kick past Lee Gibson after just three minutes of action, and went on to double her tally for the afternoon before half time, showing her dominance in the air once again as she nodded in Grant’s corner kick. The brace takes McGovern to 16 league goals in her first season with Hibs, with Grant Scott sure to be delighted with his striker’s contribution in front of goal.

Forward – Josephine Giard (Hamilton Academical)

Hamilton maintained their strong hold on the peak of the second tier with a 5-2 win over their closest rivals, Kilmarnock, on Sunday afternoon. Justine Strain, who broke into Robert Watson’s first team squad last season alongside twin sister Vivienne, has seen more playing time for Accies this year, and scored her first goals of 2025 over the weekend. The 16-year-old made an excellent run down the left before her first goal, evading a couple of challenges before finding the far corner, and pounced on some lax defending to double her tally for the afternoon in a successful afternoon for both her, and the league leaders.