Team of the Week – 22nd March

Team of the Week from ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on 18th and 22nd March.

————————

Goalkeeper – Lee Gibson (Glasgow City)

Glasgow City suffered their first league defeat of the season on Sunday, a 1-0 loss away to Rangers in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League. Gibson makes the team, conceding just two goals against Celtic (a 1-1 draw) and Rangers and putting in a particularly impressive performance at the weekend. The Scotland international made six saves, holding off the side in blue until they eventually broke the deadlock with a penalty in the 91st minute. City remain top of the table, four points clear of Celtic and Hearts, and will hope to make amends against Rangers on Sunday to win the Sky Sports Cup.

————————

Defender – Kelly Clark (Celtic)

Celtic will consider themselves right back in the title race, now just four points behind Glasgow City with seven games remaining in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League. Their midweek 1-1 draw against City ensured they kept pace at the top before a last minute 3-2 win over Partick Thistle moved them up to second in the table. Clark continues to show her value for the club, scoring twice on Sunday, including a late header, as well as winning 73% of her duels and making five interceptions midweek. Grant Scott’s side next face Hearts, who they are level on points with, midweek on 1st April.

Defender – Jess Murphy (Livingston)

It’s back-to-back inclusions for Murphy who scored again for Livingston as they came away 4-0 winners at home to East Fife. The defender headed home from a corner, making it three goals in her last two matches. She also helped her side to a clean sheet, had a 69% passing accuracy rate, won 71% of her duels, and made 20 recoveries compared to just 12 losses. She also made 10 interceptions, the second highest of any player this round. Livi’s win means they are now guaranteed safety in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2, and would likely guarantee 7th place if they beat St Johnstone in their next match.

Defender – Katie Frew (Dundee United)

It was a mixed bag for Dundee United who fell to a narrow midweek loss to Boroughmuir Thistle before bouncing back with a 2-0 away win over Gartcairn. Frew was at the heart of their defence and while she’ll be disappointed to have conceded three goals in one game, they bounced back with a clean sheet on Sunday. Across both games she won the majority of her duels (65%), made 16 interceptions, and 35 recoveries. United are now seven points outside of the promotion play-off spot, so will need to continue their winning ways when they next face Spartans.

————————

Midfielder – Caitlin Lynch (Boroughmuir Thistle)

On the other hand, Boroughmuir Thistle have solidified their place in the promotion play-off spots following their 3-2 win over Dundee United midweek and their 1-1 draw with Queen’s Park on Sunday. Lynch played 158 minutes across both games, with a battling performance in both. Across the two games the defensive midfielder won 69% of all her duels, 64% of her aerial duels, made 18 interceptions and made more recoveries (35) than losses. Thistle next play Gartcairn with a chance to leapfrog Queen’s Park into third.

Midfielder – Milly Boughton (Motherwell)

Motherwell are making a charge to finish best of the rest in the bottom half of the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League, whilst avoiding any relegation battle in the process. The Women of Steel are now just a point behind Montrose following their 5-1 win over the Links Park side on Sunday. Boughton scored twice and provided an assist as she played the full match. She also had a further two shots, boasted a 68% passing accuracy rate, and made three interceptions. Motherwell next face Hamilton Accies in the Lanarkshire derby on the 5th of April, where a win will relegate their rivals.

Midfielder – Rosie Livingston (Hibernian)

Hibs have enjoyed the split in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League as they remain unbeaten from their opening three games, including a massive 2-1 win over rivals Hearts on Sunday. They started this week with a 2-2 draw against Rangers on Wednesday keeping them six points behind their opponents. Livingstone certainly played her part, providing an assist midweek before scoring the winning goal on Sunday with a stunning finish. Across both games she was busy on the wing with a 69% passing accuracy rate, 10 crosses, 15 dribbles, winning the majority of her duels, and making 10 interceptions. Joelle Murray’s side next play Glasgow City, knowing a win would move them within eight points of the league leaders with six games left.

————————

Forward – Ellie Osborne (Stirling University)

Despite scoring four goals on Sunday, their highest this season, Stirling University still lost 5-4 at home to St Johnstone and will now at a minimum be involved in a relegation play-off battle. It was a cruel loss, with the Saints scoring late on to deny them a point. Osborne earns her spot in the team with a hat-trick up front and she’ll be hoping to continue her goalscoring form between now and the end of the season. Stirling Uni next play East Fife at home on the 5th of April and can’t lose, or they will be automatically relegated.

Forward – Carly Johns (Hearts)

Hearts missed a golden opportunity to move to within a point of Glasgow City but were defeated 2-1 to Hibs on Sunday. Following their 4-1 away win over Partick Thistle midweek and City’s loss on Sunday, the Jambos couldn’t capitalise. Johns earns her spot in the team again this season, scoring a hat-trick over Thistle as well as getting an assist in both matches. Across both games she also had a further seven shots, boasted an 81% passing accuracy rate, and provided five crosses. Sunday’s defeat means Hearts drop down to third, behind Celtic, but they remain four points behind the league leaders.

Forward & Star Player – Natalie Bandura (Spartans)

Both undefeated sides fell to their first league defeats on Sunday, as Spartans were 1-0 winners at home to Kilmarnock in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2. Killie looked like they were coasting to the title, and while they remain 10 points clear, Spartans will hope to provide their biggest challenge. The Edinburgh side got an impressive 4-0 win over Queen’s Park midweek as well, with Bandura scoring an all-important hat-trick. The Polish youngster across both games had nine shots, with 67% on target, boasted a 76% passing accuracy rate, and provided three crosses. Spartans remain second and are five points clear of third place Queen’s Park.

Forward – Katie Wilkinson (Rangers)

Despite sitting in fourth place, Rangers’ win over Glasgow City has likely brought them right back into the title race in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League. After a loss to Hearts last week and a draw midweek to Hibernian, a win against the league leaders was just what Leanne Crichton would have wanted. She has Wilkinson to thank as the English forward kept her composure to finish the penalty in the last minutes of the match. Wilkinson also scored against Hibs and across both matches had five shots, all on target, had an 85% passing accuracy rate, and played her part with five interceptions and being involved in 36 duels. Rangers are a point behind Hearts and Celtic and five points behind Glasgow City with seven games remaining.