Hibs cut Glasgow City’s lead at the top and more in SWPL 1 Round-Up
All the action from the weekend’s SWPL 1 football … League leaders Glasgow City were stunned as they found themselves two goals down to Hibernian after just six minutes before ultimately losing 3-1 at Meadowbank. Manager Leanne Ross will no doubt be frustrated to concede two early headers from Kathleen McGovern and Eilidh Adams. A thundered finish from Brenna Lovera brought the visitors back into the game but McGovern struck again in added time before the half to secure all three points for Hibs. The result means they are now just two points ahead of Rangers in second. Rangers meanwhile were made to work for their eventual 3-0 win over a Spartan side playing with ten for over half the game. Defender Kate Fraser was sent off five minutes before half-time as resolute defending saw seventh placed Spartans go into the break tied. However Rangers eventually made the numerical advantage count with Katie Wilkinson grabbing a brace in seven minutes before Jane Ross rounded off the scoring for the afternoon. Defeat means Spartans now find themselves seven points behind Partick Thistle, who have a game in hand away to Aberdeen next week. Making light work of their title rivals, Celtic put Hearts to the sword in a 4-0 victory at New Douglas Park. A Shannon McGregor header put Elena Sadiku’s side ahead early on before Saoirse Noonan scored a headed goal of her to double the lead. Having provided the assist for the opener, Morgan Cross made sure Celtic went into the break with a three goal lead. Crushing any hopes of a comeback, Natalie Ross added her side’s fourth after catching Lisa Robertson doddling in possession. Victory away to Queen’s Park on Wednesday would see Celtic go level on points with league leaders Glasgow City as Hearts fell six points off the top. Motherwell kept Thistle at bay with a resounding win of their own, putting four past relegation threatened Montrose. Racing into an early lead courtesy of Louisa Boyes’ effort, the visitors were made to wait almost half an hour for their second but it eventually came through Katie Rice. Laura Berry made it three minutes after the second-half began as victory looked inevitable for Paul Brownlie’s side. However they suffered a minor bump as Chelsie Watson received a straight red before Montrose’s Jade McClaren was given marching orders after a second yellow. In the dying moments of added time Laura McCartney added Motherwell’s fourth as they maintained their five point lead over the Jags. In their bid to break into the top six, Partick Thistle put in a strong display to beat bottom side Dundee United 4-1 with their first win since October. Breaking the deadlock after ten minutes, Rachel Donaldson before Megan Burns turned a Caley Gibb cross into her own net to double the home side’s lead. With an assist to her name already, Imogen Longcake added a goal to the tally to extend Thistle’s lead in the second half. Having been denied one on one by a fine Beth Renee save, Tiree Burchill made no mistake the second time round to slot a cool finish home. Amy Taylor caught the Thistle defence to score her first goal of the season in the final minutes but it proved little more than a consolation. Dundee United remain rooted at the foot of the table, three points behind fellow strugglers Queen’s Park. Queen’s Park were also easily beaten at the weekend as a 3-0 defeat to Aberdeen ensured to trip home would feel all the longer. Made to wait for their first, Kerry Beattie scored near the end of the first half before Hannah Stewart doubled the home side’s lead not long into the second. In a game that saw them take 24 shots, Aberdeen were deserving of their third and final goal courtesy of Eva Thomson. Victory means they are now level with Spartans in eighth, albeit with two games in hand and extend their lead over Queen’s Park to seven points.
Rangers beat Dundee United to secure rare away win
Rangers put in a much improved second half performance to defeat Dundee United at Tannadice and narrow the gap with league leaders Celtic to ten points. Despite the scoreline, United had the better of Rangers in the first half and Sam Dalby continued his fine goalscoring season to take advantage of some haphazard clearing in the box to fire his side ahead. Almost against the run of play, Mohamed Diomande thunderous effort from outside the box swerved past Jack Walton to level with just under ten minutes to go until the break. The visitors came flying out the traps as Robin Propper’s blasted shot found itself deflected past Walton by Kevin Holt’s flying block. Following up his goal at Old Trafford, Cyriel Dessers’ fine strike sealed the three points with minutes left to play. With the game still at an impasse Dalby beat Butland with a header only to see his effort come off the post. Luca Stephenson forced the Rangers keeper into a save as United continued to dominate the opening exchanges. Looking to regain the lead in the second half, Dalby came close once again but was denied from a metre by the shot stopper. Rangers began to grow into the game, Dessers and Nedim Bajrami both denied with their first attempts by Walton. After going a goal down, Jim Goodwin’s men were unlucky not to equalise, striking the woodwork yet again with Kai Fotheringham’s attempt. Hitting the post moments earlier himself, Diomande ended an otherwise positive afternoon in slightly sombre fashion as he saw red for raising his hand and making contact with Holt’s face. Line-ups: Dundee United: Walton, Ferry, Holt, Gallagher (c), Strain, Middleton (van der Sande 81), Sevelj, Stephenson (Fiorini 81), Fotheringham (Trapanovski 62), Paton (Moult 62), Dalby Unused subs: Adegboyega, Babunski, Harding, Graham, Richards Booked: Ferry, Middleton, Gallagher, Holt Goals: Dalby (19) Rangers: Butland, Jefte, Nsiala, Propper, Tavernier (c), Raskin, Diomande, Bajrami (Nsio 89), Dessers, Hagi (Lovelace 85), Igamane Unused subs: Curtis, Kelly, King, Lawrence, McCausland, Rice, Rafael Fernandes Booked: Tavernier Sent off: Diomande Goals: Diomande (37), Propper (49), Dessers (86) Attendance: 13, 653 Referee: Nick Walsh