Team of the Week – 28th January

Team of the Week from ScottishPower Women’s Premier League games played on 25th January.

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Goalkeeper – Lee Gibson (Glasgow City)

Glasgow City remain unbeaten domestically this season, drawing 1-1 with Rangers and leaving them five points clear at the top of the table. Yet again, Leanne Ross will thank the performance of her former teammate and number one ‘keeper who made some outstanding saves to keep Rangers from scoring more than their one goal. Gibson had an expected conceded goals of 1.89, made five saves, and boasted a 100% short passing accuracy rate. While Lauren Perry of Montrose just misses out this week, Gibson more than deserves her spot between the sticks.

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Defender – Jess Murphy (Livingston)

Livingston moved 10 points clear of the relegation play-off spot in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 with a convincing 5-0 win over East Fife. With goals from different players (and one own goal), Murphy is included in defence with her goal, two shots on target, a clean sheet, 68% passing accuracy, and winning the majority of her duels. Livi will hope to maintain their unbeaten run in January when they next face St Johnstone, the side below them, on Sunday.

Defender – Rebecca Simpson (Gartcairn)

Gartcairn remain sixth in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 after their 4-1 win over St Johnstone, now four points behind Dundee United with a game in hand. It was an impressive display from Simpson at the back, performing 73% of her total actions (79) in the game successfully. This included her first goal for the club from a free-kick, 82% passing accuracy, 73% duels won, 12 interceptions, and 22 recoveries. Aside from conceding a goal, this was an impressive performance which she’ll hope to replicate when they travel to Spartans on Sunday.

Defender – Ria McCafferty (Boroughmuir Thistle)

Boroughmuir Thistle made it their fourth straight match in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 without conceding, a somewhat routine 4-0 win over bottom side Stirling University. McCafferty is included this round as she was the player who made the most passes (79% accuracy), the third highest number of passes into the final third, the second highest number of progressive passes, and had the highest ball progression in the league. Alongside a clean sheet, she also had a 100% dribbling success rate, won 79% of her duels, and made five interceptions.

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Midfielder – Megan Cunningham (Queen’s Park)

The Spiders continued their unbeaten run in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2, now having to go back to the middle of October for their last defeat. This leaves them third in the table and level on points with Boroughmuir Thistle (who have a game in hand). Their 2-1 win over Dundee United moves them four points clear of their opponents and above Spartans. Cunningham earns her place for her defensive role in midfield where she made the fourth highest number of passes in the league (77% passing accuracy rate), the fourth highest number of passes into the final third, made nine interceptions, and an incredible 25 recoveries.

Midfielder – Georgina McTear (Kilmarnock)

There’s an inclusion for another defensive midfielder in our team, this time McTear as she helped Killie to a narrow 1-0 win over Spartans. While it wasn’t perhaps her best performance of the season, she got the all-important goal as well as having the majority of her passes accurate and duels won. The result means Kilmarnock are 13 points clear at the top of the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 as they seemingly march towards the title.

Midfielder – Hannah Stewart (Aberdeen)

Aberdeen took a massive step towards revitalising their top-six ambitions with a 2-1 win over rivals Motherwell at a blustery Balmoral Stadium. The Dons remain in the relegation play-off spot in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League, but they are now just a point between Motherwell and Partick Thistle and five behind a top-six spot. Stewart is included for getting the opening goal of the game, as well as providing a goalscoring threat with three shots throughout the match. She also had a 62% passing accuracy rate in tough conditions and won the majority of her duels. Scott Booth will hope his side can jump up the table when they travel to bottom of the table Hamilton on Sunday.

Midfielder – Maria McAneny (Celtic)

Marking her 100th appearance for Celtic, McAneny got the only goal in Celtic’s 1-0 win over Montrose. It’s a game where the home side could have scored more, if not for the impressive performance of Perry in goals, but three points lifts Celtic up to second and five points behind Glasgow City. In the 68 minutes she played, she had five shots, 78% passing accuracy, won 78% of her ariel duels and made 11 recoveries. Grant Scott will hope McAneny can put in more star performances with games against Rangers (Sky Sports Cup) and Glasgow City next.

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Forward & Star Player– Calliste Brookshire (Rangers)

With Gibson excellent for City on Sunday, it was going to take a moment of magic to beat her, and Brookeshire provided it. The American, in the final minutes of the game, curled the ball wonderfully into the far corner from a tight angle, earning Rangers a potentially vital point in the title battle. The winger was a threat throughout the match with a further shot on target, four crosses, 67% dribbling success rate, and winning the majority of her duels. Rangers next face Celtic in the Sky Sports Cup Semi-Final before returning to league business with an away match against Hamilton Accies.

Forward – Georgia Timms (Heart of Midlothian)

Another ScottishPower Women’s Premier League match and another goal for Georgia Timms. The Hearts forward has been prolific this season, adding to her tally in their 4-0 win over Partick Thistle. She also provided the assist for their opening goal, boasted an 82% passing success rate, five crosses, 88% dribbling success rate, and won the majority of her duels. The result keeps the Jambos fourth in the table, but having played a game less than both Rangers (one point ahead) and Celtic (three points ahead).

Forward – Eilidh Adams (Hibernian)

Hibernian made somewhat light work of bottom side Hamilton Academical in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League, winning 5-0 and keeping pace with the sides above them. Adams is included for grabbing a brace for her side, and it could have been more if not from some impressive saves by Erin Halliday. She had 10 shots in the match with five on target. Joelle Murray’s side will turn their attention to the Sky Sports Cup as they host Glasgow City on Saturday for a place in the final.