Team of the Week – 5th and 9th August

Team of the Week from ScottishPower Women’s Premier League Sky Sports Cup games played on 5th and 9th August.

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Goalkeeper – Katie O’Hanlon (Aberdeen)

SWPL side Aberdeen missed out on a place in the next round of the Sky Sports Cup, losing three of their four matches in the group stage. O’Hanlon earns her spot between the sticks after featuring in both their last two matches, their 2-0 loss to Spartans and keeping a clean sheet in their 1-0 win over Dundee United midweek. She made 11 saves across both matches, the fourth highest of all goalkeepers on Wednesday and the highest number of saves (seven) on Sunday, including a vital one-on-one stop in their narrow victory away to United. The Dons will now turn their attention to survival in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League with a tricky opening tie away to Hearts (16:00 KO) first up.

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Defender – Demi Taylor (Montrose)

The Mighty Mo reached the next stage of the Sky Sports Cup as the only side to win all four of their matches, scoring 25 goals in the process. Taylor earns her third inclusion in a row as she gets her 2026/27 off to a flyer. The left sided defender scored once in their 8-2 away win over St Johnstone before providing an incredible five assists in their 9-0 win over Hamilton Accies. Across both games she provided 31 crosses, 20 of which were accurate, had roughly a 76% passing accuracy rate, and boasted a total of four further shots midweek against The Saints. If the Sky Sports Cup is anything to go by, SWPL sides will have one eye on the impressive form of Montrose in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League.

Defender – Leah Daly (Livingston)

Livingston will compete in the Sky Sports Cup play-offs after narrowly missing out on a Top Six spot. Livi got the all important 5-0 win over Falkirk on Sunday, but their previous two losses will mean they now play Queen’s Park on Wednesday 26th August for a place in the next round. Daly played in both their midweek and weekend match in full, helping her side to a clean sheet as well as scoring and providing an assist on Sunday. She also won 59% of all her duels across both matches and made 10 interceptions. Livingston turn their attention to ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 business where they travel away to St Johnstone (16:00 KO).

Defender – Eilidh Martin (Kilmarnock)

Kilmarnock are through to the next round of the Sky Sports Cup, but narrowly missed out on going undefeated after suffering a 3-2 loss at home to Motherwell on Sunday. The SWPL 2 side brushed past newly promoted Falkirk 3-0 midweek, but SWPL opponents ultimately proved too much. Martin played both matches in full, helping to keep a clean sheet midweek as well scoring and getting an assist against The Bairns. While she was quieter against the Women of Steel, she boasted an impressive 77% duels won in that match and won 100% of her aerial duels in both games. Killie will look to turn their good form into automatic promotion as they open the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 season away to newly promoted Renfrew (12:00 KO).

Defender – Niamh Noble (Spartans)

Spartans made it back-to-back victories this week as they secured their place in the next round of the Sky Sports Cup. The Edinburgh side were 4-0 winners over Renfrew midweek before a 2-0 away win over Aberdeen, a side they will be desperate to finish above in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League. The new signing Noble is included after starting both matches, helping her side to their third clean sheet in a row. She also provided an assist midweek before grabbing an important goal in their win at the Balmoral Stadium, alongside a 77% passing accuracy rate across both games, 12 crosses, a 75% successful dribbling rate, and winning the majority of her duels. The ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 champions now turn their attention to top flight football as they welcome Partick Thistle to The Vanloq Community Stadium on Sunday (13:00 KO).

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Midfielder – Lucy Ronald (Motherwell)

Motherwell are into the next round of the Sky Sports Cup, finishing second in the group stage after their opening day loss to Montrose was followed by three victories. This week they were worked hard by SWPL 2 opponents as they defeated Gartcairn 2-1 midweek before a 3-2 win over Kilmarnock. In both games, Ronald was brilliant on the ball, only missing out on goal contributions for her efforts. She boasted the highest number of passes of all players midweek and was second highest on Sunday (166 total), coupled with an impressive 89% accuracy rate. She also won 67% of her duels across both games, and 41 recoveries compared to just 16 losses. Motherwell open their ScottishPower Women’s Premier League season away to Hibernian on Sunday (13:00 KO), hoping Ronald can replicate her cup form.

Midfielder – Chloe Muir (Hamilton Academical)

Hamilton Accies are through to the next round of the Sky Sports Cup, but will want to forget Sunday’s 9-0 loss to Montrose which was a shock scoreline following three impressive results in the competition. Muir earns her place for her two goals in their 3-0 midweek win over Livingston, which included a further three shots. Accies will be tipped as one of the favourites in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2 this season, and open their campaign with a tricky away tie against Queen’s Park (13:00 KO).

Midfielder – Bayley Hanvey (Renfrew)

While Renfrew are out of the Sky Sports Cup this season, they will be delighted to have picked up their first victory on Sunday. The newly promoted side had suffered three defeats before Sunday, but saw off fellow SPWPL 2 side St Johnstone 2-1. Hanvey is included as she got an all important assist in that match, as well as having two shots on target, providing four crosses, boasting an 80% dribbling success rate, and winning 73% of her duels. The Holm Park side will now fully focus on survival in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2, opening the season at home to Kilmarnock on Sunday (12:00 KO).

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Forward – Carys Grieve (Boroughmuir Thistle)

Boroughmuir Thistle earned an automatic place in the Sky Sports Cup with back-to-back victories in the competition, finishing sixth in the group stage. After two opening losses, Thistle turned it around with a midweek 3-0 win over Queen’s Park and then a 2-1 away victory over Gartcairn. Grieve earns her spot after scoring and providing an assist midweek, which included a 73% passing accuracy rate. Boroughmuir Thistle and Gartcairn meet again on Sunday (14:00 KO), this time in the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League 2.

Forward – Steffi Simson (Dundee United)

Dundee United will have to reach the next round of the Sky Sports Cup via the play-offs after finishing ninth in the group stage. The Tangerines fell to a narrow 1-0 loss to Aberdeen midweek before drawing 3-3 with Queen’s Park on Sunday but prevailing on penalties. Simson was the all important player on Sunday as she scored twice as well as having another shot on target. Across both games she also boasted a solid 78% passing accuracy rate. United will now play Gartcairn for a place in the next round on Wednesday 26th August.

Forward & Star Player – Darcie Miller (Montrose)

This week’s star player has to go to Miller, who helped her side go four wins from four in the Sky Sports Cup. The forward scored five goals across both games, including a hat-trick in their midweek 8-2 win against St Johnstone, as Miller has now scored in her last three matches. She also had a further seven shots across the two games and a 70% passing accuracy rate. The Mighty Mo turn their attention to the ScottishPower Women’s Premier League as they look to pull off a shock result against Rangers on Sunday (13:00 KO).