SWPL Team of the Week – 3rd March

Team of the Week from the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on Sunday 3rd March.

Written by Jack Donnelly.

Goalkeeper – Jasmine McPhie (Gartcairn)

Gartcairn claimed a huge three points away against Livingston on Sunday afternoon, seeing them leapfrog Glasgow Women and out of the relegation zone, with an assured performance from Jasmine McPhie helping to see her side over the line. The stopper made six saves against a frustrated Livingstone frontline, giving Gartcairn more than a fighting chance of avoiding relegation as we approach the business end of the season.

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Defender – Mia McAulay (Rangers)

In the last match before the top flight split, Rangers recorded an impressive 3-0 win over Hibernian at Meadowbank to further cement their place at the top of the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League table, with a two-goal haul also cementing this as a breakout season to remember for Mia McAulay. The youngster showed blistering pace down the flank and composure beyond her years against the Edinburgh side, while also registering a pass accuracy of 84%, winning 15 duels, and making 11 recoveries in a Player of the Match performance.

Defender – Reese McCulloch (Kilmarnock)

A top-of-the-table clash in ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 ended in a goalless draw on Sunday, with Kilmarnock managing to keep a free-scoring Queen’s Park at bay, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Reese McCulloch. The 18-year-old was a colossus at the back, winning a league-high 21 duels, and compounding that with 21 recoveries of possession for a massively influential performance in the Killie back line.

Defender – Emma Brownlie (Heart of Midlothian)

A 3-0 win over Dundee United saw Hearts edge further in front of city rivals Hibernian in fourth place, with Emma Brownlie popping up in the opposition box to ensure the Jambos entered the split in style. A tremendous looping strike opened the scoring after just six minutes and was followed up 25 minutes later with a clinical headed finish, with the 30-year-old also recording a pass accuracy of 84% in a wholly rounded performance.

Defender – Amy Muir (Glasgow City)

Glasgow City were the highest scorers of the weekend, as the current champions ran out 8-1 winners at Petershill Park against Aberdeen, with Amy Muir adopting the role of playmaker from left back. The 23-year-old was at her most influential in the second half, where she assisted three goals in less than 10 minutes to showcase that City have plenty more goals in them as we head into the split.

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Midfielder – Ellie MacIver (St Johnstone)

St. Johnstone battled to a 0-0 draw with the team directly above them, Boroughmuir Thistle, on Sunday afternoon, with Ellie MacIver marshalling the midfield to great effect during her time on the pitch. The 21-year-old took on more of a defensive role in Sunday’s match and did so to great effect, as she won 14 duels, matching her 14 recoveries as the Saints kept pace with Thistle with a game in hand against Stirling University to come.

Midfielder – Emma Craig (Queen’s Park)

Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with Kilmarnock was the first time this season that Queen’s Park have failed to find the back of the net, but without the efforts of Emma Craig in midfield, the Spiders may well have come away with nothing at all. The 22-year-old put in a strong defensive performance against Killie, winning 16 duels and making 15 recoveries of possession as Queen’s Park kept their 10-point advantage in first.

Midfielder & Star Player – Jade McLaren)

In what may be the most hectic half of the season so far, Montrose scored seven goals in 36 minutes to consign Hamilton to a heavy defeat heading into the split, as Jade McLaren took matters into her own hands and picked up a perfect hat-trick. In a performance befitting of this week’s Star Player, the midfielder arrived late to score a rebound with her left, headed in a second half an hour later, before wrapping up her afternoon with a fantastic right-footed strike to draw the Mo level on points with Spartans in 9th.

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Forward – Louisa Boyes (Motherwell)

Motherwell registered their first win of 2024 on Sunday with a 4-1 victory away against Spartans, keeping them six points ahead of their opponents heading into the split. Louisa Boyes had plenty of influence in her side’s victory, with the 23-year-old scoring a second-half brace past Alicia Yates and pulling the strings with 78% pass accuracy to help put Motherwell out of sight.

Forward – Carlee Giammona (Glasgow City)

With Glasgow City firing eight goals past Aberdeen on Sunday, it seemed wrong not to include a member of Leanne Ross’ attacking pack, and with two goals and an assist, Carlee Giammona was the most natural option. The American forward was lively and combative during her time on the pitch, completing eight dribbles and winning 19 duels in an impressive all-round performance in City’s front line.

Forward -Amy Gallacher (Celtic)

Keeping pace with their other title rivals, Celtic also entered the split with a 6-1 win over Partick Thistle, with Amy Gallacher at her clinical best, picking up her third hat-trick of the season so far. The Scotland internationalist showed some great composure in the opposition box to give her side a healthy lead, and kept her teammates ticking over with her interplay, registering a pass accuracy of 74%.