SWPL Team of the Week – 3rd November

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

Goalkeeper – Lauren McGregor (Queen’s Park)

A late change to the Queen’s Park starting 11 saw Lucy Inman drop out late and replaced by McGregor. In a match that could be pivotal for both sides at the end of the season, McGregor put in a strong performance that included three saves and only conceding once. There was little she could do to stop Hannah Jordan’s strike but she produced a vital one-on-one save to deny her late in the first-half. In a game of few chances, McGregor’s save could have earned her side an important point.

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Defender & Star Player – Emma Lawton (Celtic)

The young defender continues to shine since her move to Celtic at the end of the summer transfer window. The left sided defender opened the scoring with a well executed volley from a corner as well as providing the assist for Lucy Ashworth-Clifford’s looping goal. Add in a clean sheet against a strong Motherwell side and Lawton more than earns her place as Star Player this Sunday.

Defender – Elise Macara (Livingston)

Joining on loan from Queen’s Park last month, Macara has made an instant impact for her side as she’s played the full 90 in Livingston’s last three matches. That included their 1-0 win over Gartcairn on Sunday which saw Macara keep a clean sheet and saw Livingston close the gap down to just one point from second placed Kilmarnock.

Defender – Amy Forbes (Boroughmuir Thistle)

Boroughmuir Thistle jumped above Gartcairn and into the top four of the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 after a narrow 1-0 win over Rossvale. Cailin Michie’s goal was the only difference between the two sides as Forbes and her team kept Rossvale at bay. After a strong performance at the back, Forbes was voted as Player of the Match for her team by the fans.

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Midfielder – Charlie Devlin (Rangers)

Playing her first full 90 minutes for Rangers on Sunday, Devlin took her chance to score her first goal for the club and grabbed a hat-trick. On the left side for Rangers, she produced an incredible nine shots and scored three with an XG of only 0.59. On top of this, 82% of her passes were accurate as well as over 60% for crosses accurate and dribbles successful.

Midfielder – Linzi Taylor (Hibernian)

It was another solid midfield showing from summer signing Taylor as Hibernian remain five points behind leaders Glasgow City. The Edinburgh side were 1-0 down at Aberdeen before turning it around to win 7-1. While many of the plaudits will fall to Eilidh Adams and Kathleen McGovern who scored fives goals in the match, Taylor was voted as Player of the Match for another battling performance in the middle of the park.

Midfielder – Hannah Jordan (Spartans)

It’s another Team of the Week inclusion for Hannah Jordan who continues to shine for Spartans this season. They earned another vital point in their battle to avoid relegation as they remain 8th and now three points above the bottom three. Jordan’s goal from distance and a narrow angle was vital for the Edinburgh side in a game of few chances.

Midfielder – Jodie Malcolm (St Johnstone)

St Johnstone took a big step away from automatic relegation with a 4-1 win over fellow strugglers Ayr United. Malcolm helped settle any nerves for her side with two goals within the first 24 minutes to give the Saints a comfortable lead at the Riverside Stadium. It’s a result that moves them three points clear of the foot of the table and to within just one point of Rossvale.

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Forward – Brenna Lovera (Glasgow City)

It’s another Team of the Week inclusion for Lovera who grabbed herself a brace as Glasgow City prevailed 3-0 in the Petershill Park derby. Both Lovera and Emily Whelan impressed again for City as they continue to lead the way at the top of the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League. Lovera earns the inclusion with her two goals and a total of six shots throughout the match. Leanne Ross will be hoping to keep her in-form forwards fit and firing for the rest of the season.

Forward – Justine Strain (Hamilton Academical)

A first ever place in the SWPL Team of the Week for 16 year old Justine Strain. The Accies graduate got her first ever goal for the club as well as providing the assist for their opening goal over Kilmarnock. In what was a massive match for the team, Strain was voted Player of the Match as Accies extended their lead at the top of the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 to eight points.

Forward – Bayley Hutchison (Heart of Midlothian)

Another hat-trick in the Team of the Week, this time from Hearts’ Hutchison. The former Aberdeen striker has taken a bit of time to find her goalscoring form at Hearts but is finding it now and at an important time for Eva Olid’s side. They were unstoppable against Dundee United on Sunday as they scored nine goals, keeping them within a point of the title and further improving their goal difference in the process.