Team of the Week – 17th December

Team of the Week from ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on 14th December.

————————

Goalkeeper – Lauren Perry (Montrose)

Montrose Manager Craig Feroz said it was the biggest upset in women’s football since he’s been involved as Montrose made, in his words, “history” in a 1-1 draw with reigning champions Hibernian. The Mighty Mo were impressive throughout the whole team, with Perry going into this side with four saves and a couple of impressive stops against her opponents. Going long at every opportunity, she boasted a strong 59% passing accuracy to help her side hold off Hibs and bolster their top-six credentials in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League.

————————

Defender – Laura McLaughlin (Kilmarnock)

Another round of ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 matches, another victory for Kilmarnock. Jim Chapman’s side remain 10 points clear after 12 games, defeating East Fife 6-1 at home on Sunday. McLaughlin goes into the team boasting a 93% passing accuracy rate, making a remarkable 16 recoveries compared to just three losses, and boasting an overal success rate of 83% for all her actions. The Killie march to the title continues, but with a potentially tricky away tie to Livingston next.

Defender – Morgan Hay (Queen’s Park)

Despite a change of Head Coach, Queen’s Park extended their unbeaten run to five games with a 5-0 win away to St Johnstone. Hay earns her place as the full-back helped her side to a clean sheet and grabbed the final goal of the game, advancing forward and finding herself in the right place to finish off the match. She was a threat from defence with a further two shots, but was also solid at the back with 67% of her duels won, 10 interceptions, 16 recoveries, and a solid 75% passing accuracy rate. The Spiders remain in the top four, just a point behind Spartans and Boroughmuir Thistle.

Defender – Lizzie Waldie (Heart of Midlothian)

No player was involved more on Sunday than Waldie as Hearts came away 3-0 winners over Motherwell. The defender had a total of 122 actions, with an impressive 101 (83%) successful and she made the highest number of passes this round (105) with 91% accuracy. As well as helping her side keep a clean sheet, she also had two crosses, made seven interceptions, and 11 recoveries. The Jambos host Glasgow City on Sunday and a win would bring them to within a point of the league leaders going into Christmas.

————————

Midfielder – Danni Findlay (Dundee United)

It wasn’t the return to Dundee United that Graeme Hart would have wanted with his Gartcairn side, falling to a 3-0 defeat as the Tangerines extended the gap between the top five and bottom five. Playing in a slightly deeper role, Findlay scored twice on Sunday, typically clinical finishes from a striker who has shown her goalscoring qualities season after season across the SWPL and SWPL 2. She had a further three shots in the match, had an 80% dribbling success rate, won the majority of her duels, and made eight interceptions. United remain outside of the play-off zone, just a point behind Queen’s Park.

Midfielder – Louisa Boyes (Glasgow City)

While another City player will take most of the glory from Sunday, it’s a match that Boyes won’t forget as she got her first goal for the club. The midfielder was solid in the middle of the park, boasting 83% successful actions throughout the full game. She had a further shot on target, 86% passing accuracy, and won the majority of her duels. She’ll hope she has done enough to keep her place as City have a top of the table clash against Hearts on Sunday.

Midfielder – Laura Berry (Rangers)

Another game and another goal for Berry, her sixth consecutive goal for club and country. The 18-year-old scored and got one assist as Rangers were 3-0 winners over Partick Thistle and keeping them seven points behind leaders Glasgow City. Berry was a menace against the Jags on Sunday with three shots, 100% dribbling success, 61% duels won, and 85% passing accuracy. It looks like Berry is on track to be joining the long list of young talent to have been produced at Rangers.

————————

Forward – Ami Robertson (Boroughmuir Thistle)

Boroughmuir Thistle remain second in ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2, ahead of Spartans on goals scored after 12 games. Their 6-0 away win over Livingston certainly helped their cause, Robertson grabbing a hat-trick. It’s the 20-year-old’s first goals for the club since September and Andy Enwood will hope it’s a sign of more to come. She got her goals from an xG of just 0.51 and had a further two shots, as she showcased her ability to score from close range and from distance. Thistle are 10 point behind leaders Kilmarnock, but know there is plenty more football to be played.

Forward & Star Player– Lisa Forrest (Glasgow City)

Even against the side rooted to the bottom of the table without a point, it was a professional performance from City and Forrest as they were 7-0 winners over Hamilton Accies. Forrest got five of the goals, earning her star player this week. While it wasn’t her most successful performance of the season overall, nobody can argue with her output as she scored five from an xG of 2.71 and had a further two shots. The league leaders remain four points clear at the top and unbeaten domestically this season.

Forward – Saoirse Noonan (Celtic)

Celtic kept pace with the sides above them after a 4-0 win over Aberdeen at home. Noonan got two more goals this season, taking her total to nine in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League, as well as an assist on Sunday. The Republic of Ireland international was a a threat throughout her 81 minutes played with five shots and 76% passing accuracy. Elena Sadiku will hope she can continue her form as they travel to Hibernian on Sunday.

Forward – Izzy Young (Spartans)

It’s not often you score four goals and miss out on being star player, but that’s the case for Young. The 17-year-old forward put Stirling University to the sword in Spartans’ 7-0 win. The winger had seven shots (five on target), 72% passing accuracy, 90% dribbling success, and won the majority of her duels. She also got her four goals from an xG of just 0.74, outlining the clinical nature of her performance. The result keeps the Edinburgh side third in the table, behind Boroughmuir Thistle on goals scored.