SWPL Team of the Week – 6th & 8th September

Team of the Week from the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on Friday 6th and Sunday 8th September.

Written by Jack Donnelly.

Goalkeeper – Beth Rennie (Dundee United)

Having endured a rough start to the year with five straight defeats in the league, Dundee United were able to secure their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw away against Aberdeen, thanks in no small part to Beth Rennie’s exploits in between the sticks. The 18-year-old made six saves as United fought for the draw, and looked very comfortable in her distribution, misplacing just three passes throughout the match.

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Defender – Niamh Noble (Aberdeen)

Moving on to United’s opponents from Sunday, Aberdeen drew for the second game in a row at the weekend, keeping themselves two points clear in that all-important ninth place in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League. Having conceded late in the first half, the Dons made sure that they went into the break with the score level, as Niamh Noble netted her first of the season, nodding in a corner in stoppage time. The young full back was troublesome for United’s front line, as she won 12 duels and made 11 recoveries of possession in an important defensive display.

Defender – Robyn McCafferty (Spartans)

Like Dundee United, Spartans went into this weekend’s fixtures without a league point to their name – 90 minutes, and three goals later, the Edinburgh side were able to chalk three onto their tally after victory over Montrose. Leading the way in this imposing performance was captain Robyn McCafferty, whose 12 successful duels and 18 recoveries show a player who left everything out on the Links Park pitch in pursuit of a clean sheet. The centre back also thumped a header home for Spartans’ second, sending her side well on their way to victory.

Defender – Erin Husband (Heart of Midlothian)

The first Edinburgh derby of the season was full of intrigue, with both Hibernian and Hearts enjoying successful starts to the new season, but the maroon side of Edinburgh stormed Easter Road and claimed bragging rights as they ran out 4-0 winners in Leith. Having broken through last season alongside her twin sister, Erin Husband was resolute at the back for Eva Olid’s side, and wasn’t put off by the big occasion. Making nine recoveries and completing 93% of passes, the 16-year-old centre back shone in a fearless derby display.

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Midfielder – Leni Parrish (Boroughmuir Thistle)

After a pair of defeats in their last two games, Boroughmuir Thistle bounced back with a solid 2-0 win away against Rossvale on Sunday afternoon. Making a mark in her side’s exploits so far this season has been youngster Leni Parrish, who was rewarded for her efforts with a first goal in senior football in this match. Receiving the ball short from a corner, Parrish found the far corner in some style, and was constantly making life difficult for her opponent on the flank.

Midfielder – Lisa Robertson (Heart of Midlothian)

While Hearts’ formidable performance in Friday night’s Edinburgh derby produced four different goalscorers, some of the Jambos’ biggest performers on the night weren’t involved with the goals at all. Like Erin Husband in defence, summer signing Lisa Robertson excelled in Eva Olid’s midfield, serving to frustrate Hibernian at any opportunity. Robertson was an anchor on the left of midfield, winning 14 duels and making 16 recoveries while breaking up opposition attacks, and completing 81% of passes as she looked to move her side forward.

Midfielder – Lauren Kerr (Hamilton Academical)

Table-topping Hamilton faltered for the first time this season on Sunday afternoon, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Kilmarnock. One player who battled from the first minute was Lauren Kerr, who marshalled the midfield to great effect throughout the match. Kerr bagged her third goal of the season against Killie, finishing off a slick passing move with a first time strike into the bottom corner to put her side ahead.

Midfielder – Sofia Määttä (Glasgow City)

After a couple of lower-scoring victories in their previous two matches, Glasgow City kicked open the floodgates on Sunday afternoon as they welcomed Queen’s Park, running out 8-0 winners in the end. Creatively brilliant in this clash was this week’s Star Player, Sofia Maatta, who scored twice and assisted two more, being involved in half of her side’s goals in this encounter. Across this round of top-flight fixtures, no player had more touches in the penalty area (18), completed more dribbles (eight), or made more progressive runs (eight) than Maatta, for a tremendously influential attacking exhibition.

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Forward – Cara Henderson (Partick Thistle)

Sunday saw Partick Thistle take to the Fir Park pitch in Motherwell and put in a mighty performance to earn all three points and jump into the top six for the first time this season, at the expense of their opponents. It’s been an uncharacteristically slow start to the season for Partick’s talismanic striker Cara Henderson, but she forced her side’s third of the afternoon with a crashing 25-yard strike, which cannoned off the underside of the bar and found the back of the net via Emily Mutch’s back. Henderson also kept Motherwell’s back line on their toes, as she won 13 duels in an impactful performance from the front.

Forward – Nicole Kozlova (Glasgow City)

As previously mentioned, Sofia Maatta was the most threatening of Glasgow City’s strike force on Sunday afternoon, but this may not have been the case if Nicole Kozlova had played the full 90 minutes. Entering the match at half-time, the Ukranian striker bagged herself a 39-minute hat trick, and could potentially have scored more, having put eight shots on target from 11 attempts. That makes it four goals in just 79 minutes of football for Kozlova over the last two games – talk about an impact sub…

Forward – Olivia Hurrell (St Johnstone)

It looked like it might be a difficult afternoon for St. Johnstone on Sunday, as they went into half time against Ayr United a goal, and a player, down. However, a second half comeback saw the Saints take all three points back up the road to Perth, thanks in no small part to Olivia Hurrell. The striker, who equalised in the first half, scored her second to wrap up the points for Josh Henderson’s side.