Team of the Week – 13th September

Team of the Week from ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on 13th September.

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Goalkeeper – Chloe Nicolson, Hamilton Academical

Despite Hamilton Academical falling to a 2-0 defeat against their Lanarkshire rivals and ScottishPower Women’s Premier League side Motherwell in the Sky Sports Cup, Nicolson put in an impressive shift in goal. Facing seven shots against, the goalkeeper kept Accies competitive throughout the tie by making five saves while successfully completing three exits. She also showed great composure with her short passing out from the back with 100% accuracy. Accies return to SWPL 2 action on Sunday when they travel to face St Johnstone (16:00 KO).

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Defender – Niamh Noble, Spartans

Spartans pushed Celtic all the way on Sunday in a tightly contested Sky Sports Cup tie, ultimately falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat. Noble was exceptional throughout her 90-minute shift, making vital interceptions and won the majority of her ground duels to frustrate Celtic’s dangerous frontline. Her disciplined positioning and defensive awareness kept the Hoops at bay for large periods of the game. Spartans return to ScottishPower Women’s Premier League duty on Sunday when they host Edinburgh rivals Hearts (14:00 KO).

Defender – Fiona Gibson, Boroughmuir Thistle

Boroughmuir Thistle pulled off the shock result this Sunday in the Sky Sports Cup by securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Montrose. Gibson was instrumental from left centre-back across the full match, scoring the game’s solitary goal to seal the win for Thistle. Defensively she made five interceptions and won around 50% of her total duels to frustrate top-flight opposition. Gibson also showed directness on the ball, completing 11 passes and a 100% dribbling success rate, while also making three recoveries in the opposition half to relieve pressure. Thistle travel away to Renfrew on Sunday (12:00 KO) as they look to continue their 100% start in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2.

Defender – Ellie MacDonald, Motherwell

Motherwell secured their place in the Quarter-Final of the Sky Sports Cup with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Hamilton Academical, their eighth successive victory in the Lanarkshire derby. MacDonald delivered an impactful display at both ends of the pitch. She capped off her performance by getting on the scoresheet as she scored directly from a corner and saw the final goal of the game come from another corner she took. On the ball, she showed excellent distribution, completing 38 of her 49 passes (a 78% accuracy rate), including four successful long balls and two precise crosses. Defensively, she registered four interceptions and nine recoveries to help lock down the clean sheet. Motherwell are away to Celtic on Friday evening (19:30 KO) with the chance to climb up to sixth in the table.

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Midfielder – Caitlin Lynch, Boroughmuir Thistle

Lynch earns her second inclusion in the Team of the Week this season following a relentless midfield display during Boroughmuir Thistle’s 1-0 Sky Sports Cup triumph. The defensive midfielder was an elite defensive anchor, leading all players in this round of the cup with a staggering 16 interceptions to continually break up the opposition’s attack. She was heavily involved in central battles, winning 13 of her 23 duels (including four aerial duels) and making 16 recoveries (five in the opponent’s half) to keep Montrose under pressure. On the ball, Lynch completed 20 passes with a 57% passing accuracy to help manage the tempo and preserve their historic cup victory. Boroughmuir Thistle are away to Renfrew on Sunday (12:00 KO).

Midfielder – Casey Howe, Celtic

Celtic advanced to the Quarter-Final of the Sky Sports Cup with a 1-0 victory over a resilient Spartans side. Operating in an attacking midfield role, Howe proved to be the decisive factor, scoring the game’s only goal to break the deadlock and secure her side’s progression. She remained a constant threat throughout the 90 minutes, registering a further two shots, including a brilliant strike that rattled the crossbar. Her sharp movement, vision, and willingness to shoot kept the opposition under constant pressure. Celtic return to the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League on Friday when they welcome Motherwell (19:30 KO) and look to maintain their 100% start.

Midfielder – Linda Motlhalo, Glasgow City

Glasgow City cruised into the Quarter-Final of the Sky Sports Cup with an emphatic 8-0 victory over ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 side Livingston. Motlhalo was the orchestrator in midfield across her 90 minutes from central midfield, bagging two goals across five shots (three on target) and providing an assist. She was practically faultless in possession, dictating the tempo with a staggering 94% passing accuracy after completing 50 of her 53 passes. Off the ball, Motlhalo put in a sharp pressing display, making three interceptions and recovering possession six times in the opponent’s half. Glasgow City host the Petershill Park derby against Partick Thistle on Sunday (13:00 KO).

Midfielder – Jas McQuade, Hibernian

Hibernian produced a ruthless attacking display to defeat Kilmarnock 8-1 in the Sky Sports Cup, with McQuade putting in a dominant performance from midfield. Operating from an attacking position, McQuade bagged a double across six total shots (four on target). She was a central figure in Hibs’ build-up play, completing 45 of her 54 passes (83% accuracy) alongside two successful dribbles and two accurate crosses. McQuade was also relentless off the ball, making five interceptions, winning 11 duels, and recovering possession 12 times in the opponent’s half to keep the hosts pinned back. McQuade will look to build on her form in Sunday’s match against Montrose in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League (13:00 KO).

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Forward – Libby Smith, Hibernian

Joining her teammate in the Team of the Week, Smith led the line to devastating effect in Hibernian’s 8-1 victory over ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 side Kilmarnock. Across her 75 minutes on the pitch, the forward bagged an impressive hat-trick, converting three of her six shots on target. Smith was virtually flawless in linking play, completing 25 of her 26 passes at a phenomenal 96% accuracy rate, while also registering two successful dribbles out of three and making two interceptions. Her lethal finishing and sharp link-up play ensured Kilmarnock had no answers to Hibs’ frontline. Hibernian face bottom-of-the-table Montrose on Sunday in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League (13:00 KO).

Forward – Mia English, Partick Thistle

Boroughmuir Thistle maintained their perfect start to the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 season with a 3-1 victory away to Livingston. Aitchison led the line brilliantly, scoring twice to ensure all three points for the Edinburgh side. The forward was clinical from a dead ball, scoring from the penalty spot and from a free-kick from an overall xG of just 0.79. She also linked play effectively with 34 completed passes at an impressive 83% accuracy rate. Thistle will look to test themselves against SPWPL opposition in the Sky Sports Cup when they welcome Montrose (13:00 KO).

Forward & Star Player – Emily Gray, Glasgow City

Glasgow City’s explosive 8-0 Sky Sports Cup win over Livingston saw Gray deliver a masterclass in clinical forward play to claim this week’s Star Player award. Gray was practically unstoppable, scoring a hat-trick and setting up another goal. She showed ruthless efficiency in front of goal, hitting the target with all four of her shots. Beyond her goals, Gray was heavily involved in City’s build-up, completing 32 passes, four crosses, two successful dribbles, and five interceptions, while recovering possession five times in the opponent’s half. Gray will look to carry her fine momentum into Glasgow City’s ScottishPower Women’s Premier League fixture against Partick Thistle on Sunday (13:00 KO).