SWPL: Rangers Top Table After Dominant Victory
Rangers have claimed the top spot in the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) following a commanding 9-0 victory over Queen's Park. This puts them ahead of their rivals on goal difference.
The Gers were rampant from the outset, with Kirsty Howat opening the scoring after 17 minutes. Quick-fire goals from Chelsea Cornet, Brogan Hay, and Rio Hardy saw them 4-0 up inside the first half-hour. Defender Kathy Hill then added her first goal of the season before the break, extending Rangers' lead to 5-0.
Howat bagged her second goal early in the second half, and further strikes from substitutes Katie Wilkinson and Laura Berry, along with a Queen's Park own goal in stoppage time, completed a comprehensive victory.
Elsewhere, Celtic maintained their winning start to the season with a 5-1 win over Motherwell. Saoirse Noonan opened the scoring after just three minutes, and goals from Lucy Ashworth-Clifford and Amy Gallacher put Celtic 3-0 up at half-time. Morgan Cross pulled one back for Motherwell early in the second half, but goals from Murphy Agnew and Maria McAneny extinguished any hopes of a comeback.
Hibs also secured their third win of the season, moving up to third place after a resounding 6-0 victory over Dundee United. Summer signing Linzi Taylor scored her first two goals for the club in the first half, with Eilidh Adams also netting a brace. Mya Christie added a fifth before the interval, and former Hearts attacker Kathleen McGovern completed the rout after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Hearts slipped to fourth place after Glasgow City snatched a late winner at their temporary home of K-Park. Amy Muir opened the scoring for City, but the game took a dramatic turn at the end of the first half when Kimberley Smit was shown a red card for a foul in the box, leading to a penalty. Lisa Robertson converted the spot-kick for Hearts, but Sofia Maatta scored the winning goal with just five minutes remaining.
Partick Thistle secured their first win of the season, defeating Spartans 2-1 at Ainslie Park. Caley Gibb put Thistle ahead after just two minutes, and Tiree Burchill doubled their lead within the first 10 minutes. Hannah Jordan pulled one back for Spartans in the second half, but Thistle held on despite being reduced to 10 players in injury time when Claire Adams was shown a red card.
Aberdeen also earned their first win of the season, beating Montrose 2-0. Niamh Noble and Emily Kraft scored their first goals for the Dons, leaving Montrose without a point at the bottom of the table.
This weekend's results have shaken up the SWPL table, with Rangers now leading the way. The battle for the title promises to be intense, with several teams vying for top spot.
