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| Assistant boss Donald Jennow, Niamh Johnston and Emma Black preview the match against @EUHVFootball. pic.twitter.com/5iljFBQhi4

— Motherwell LFC (@MotherwellLFC) February 18, 2018

Motherwell’s women’s team play their first home match of the 2018 SWPL2 season on Sunday, as they host Edinburgh University Hutchison Vale.

The match is being played at Braidhurst High School in Motherwell. Kick off is at 2pm.

Eddie Wolecki Black’s side got their campaign off to a winning start last weekend as they defeated Kilmarnock 2-1 at Rugby Park.

Motherwell Ladies kicked off the season with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The women of steel, under the guidance of Eddie Wolecki Black for the first time in a competitive fixture, showed their mettle by scoring the winning goal in the dying minutes of the match.

‘Well had got themselves ahead courtesy of an own goal. A delightful free kick from Emma Black was headed into her own net by the unfortunate Kilmarnock defender, under heavy pressure from Sammy Hare.

The claret and amber women had the ball in the net again soon after, only for the assistant’s flag to chalk it off for offside.

Both teams had half chances, but the first half would end with the visitors narrowly ahead at a freezing cold Rugby Park.

Former Scotland striker Suzanne Mulvey was proving a handful for the home defenders and she brought about an excellent save from keeper Morgan Hunter, turning a low strike around the left-hand post for a corner.

Northern Ireland International Kerry Montgomery went close again soon after, but was again denied by Hunter who was having an excellent afternoon in the Killie goal.

With those chances gone, the inevitable happened when Kilmarnock got themselves on level terms. Sara Paterson sending a free kick into the back of the net with just 18 minutes left to play.

And it looked as if it was going to stay that way until, with just minutes left on the clock, Hayley Cunningham’s free kick hit a body en route and ended up past Hunter and in the net, securing all three points and a win in the first game of the new Motherwell era.

Motherwell: Johnstone, Nicholson, Knox, Condie, McLaughlin, Montgomery, Hare, Cunningham, Mulvey, Black, Johnston (Russell 74)

Motherwell subs: Rhind, Dalziel, Kerr, Reside, Goodwin, Canavan

| Manager @edblack65, @kerry0023 and @suzanne13mulvey speak ahead of the season opener against @FCKilmarnockLFC on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/ULJsFyKwFO

— Motherwell LFC (@MotherwellLFC) February 9, 2018

Motherwell Ladies start their SWPL2 campaign on Sunday with a trip to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Eddie Wolecki Black has made wholesale changes to the team in preparation for the new season and has a squad full of confidence going into their first game.

Kick off is at 4pm.

Former Scotland youth international Lesley Condie is Eddie Wolecki Black’s 11th signing of pre season, as Motherwell Ladies prepare for the 2018 campaign.

Condie, 30, started her career with Queen’s Park Ladies and, whilst in her teens, was a regular for both the Scotland U17 and U19s teams.

She then moved across the pond to Boston to complete a football scholarship at Northeastern University before returning home to captain Rangers in 2011.

The left back spent three years with the Light Blues, captaining the side, before taking time out the game to have a family.

Wolecki Black has already added Kerry Montgomery, Emma Black, Stephanie Knox, Sammy Hare, Claire Johnstone, Ashley Nicolson, Kirsty McLaughlin, Suzanne Mulvey, Hayley Cunningham and Caitlin Russell to his squad.

Motherwell face Kilmarnock in the league this Sunday at Rugby Park.

The Fir Park boss said: “I am delighted to welcome Lesley to Motherwell and she’s another who will add significant top-level experience to our squad.

[pullquote]Having played with Rangers and Scotland youths, she knows what it takes and the I can see she has the bit between her teeth after several years out the game.[/pullquote]

“I’m really looking forward to working with her.”

Condie, who will wear number four this season, added: “I am delighted to be back playing football and I am excited to be at an ambitious club like Motherwell.

“I have played alongside a number of my teammates for Scotland so settling in has been easier. I can’t wait to get started this weekend.”

Motherwell Ladies have added two more to their squad for the 2018 season with the signings of Hayley Cunningham and Caitlin Russell.

Cunningham, 28, has three Scotland caps and has been a prolific scorer in the top flight with Celtic, Hibernian and Rangers over the years.

Midfielder Russell, 18, is a current Scotland Under 19s international and joins on loan from Hibs.

The pair are the ninth and 10th signings for Eddie Wolecki Black’s team as they gear up for the new campaign.

They join Kerry Montgomery, Emma Black, Stephanie Knox, Sammy Hare, Claire Johnstone, Ashley Nicolson, Kirsty McLaughlin and Suzanne Mulvey in moving to Motherwell.

“We are delighted to have signed Hayley and Caitlin,” said manager Wolecki Black.

“We are building a strong squad ahead of the new season and the two will bring competition to the squad. We are still hoping to get more in before the season starts.”

Motherwell Ladies have added another two signings to their squad ahead of the 2018 SWPL2 campaign.

Kirsty McLaughlin and Suzanne Mulvey have joined Eddie Wolecki Black’s side, becoming the seventh and eighth players to join the club in the off season.

Mulvey, 33, is a forward who was last with top flight side Celtic.

She has earned 31 Scotland caps in a career which has also taken her to Icelandic side IBV, Sunderland and Glasgow City amongst others.

Midfielder McLaughlin, 30, counts Glasgow City, Hibernian and Spartans amongst her former clubs. She has also been capped by Scotland at youth level.

“We’ve again added players with real experience to bolster the squad,” said the manager.

[pullquote]In Suzanne we are arguably getting the best striker currently playing in Scotland.[/pullquote]

“She is a potent threat and we have seen her hit the net in pre season already.

“She is a handful. She’s quick, aggressive and knows the way to goal. I am convinced she will score plenty goals for us.

“Kirsty will bring a good range of passing to the team. I am delighted to get the chance to work with her again, having also managed her at Glasgow City. She brings years of top flight experience to the team.

“We are still looking to add to the squad before the season starts.”

The pair join Kerry Montgomery, Emma Black, Stephanie Knox, Sammy Hare, Claire Johnstone and Ashley Nicolson in moving to Motherwell.

Wolecki Black’s side face Falkirk in a friendly on Sunday at the Falkirk Stadium.

Motherwell Ladies have added another two players to their squad ahead of the forthcoming 2018 campaign.

The first is 22-year-old defender Stephanie Knox, who has joined the club from SWPL1 side Celtic.

The former Scotland youth international came through the ranks at Rangers, before making the switch to city rivals Celtic in 2015, playing the last two seasons with the Hoops.

The second new arrival is striker Sammy Hare.

It will be Sammy’s second spell working with Eddie Wolecki Black, who coached the player over a decade ago at Newburgh.

Another former Scotland youth international, she has spent time with Hibernian and had a spell in the United States. She was most recently with SWPL1 side Stirling University.

“I am obviously delighted to strengthen the squad further,” said Wolecki Black.

“Both players know the pressures faced with playing football at the top level in this country.

“They are both individuals who will add experience, drive and talent to a competitive group of players.”

Motherwell Ladies are delighted to confirm the signing of Northern Ireland international Kerry Montgomery.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who has won eight caps for her country, joins ‘Well from SWPL1 side Celtic.

Montgomery has previously worked with boss Eddie Wolecki Black at Glasgow City, where she signed in 2015 having just won the Scottish Women’s Premier League’s player of the year with Spartans.

Kerry’s signing is the fourth new recruit of pre season, following the announcements of goalkeeper Claire Johnstone and defenders Emma Black and Ashley Nicolson.

[pullquote]The club has real ambitions to be the very best it can be within the woman’s game and I want to help play a part in that.”[/pullquote]

Speaking of her arrival, Kerry said: “I am delighted to sign for Motherwell and I am really looking forward to the new season.

“The main attraction of Motherwell was Eddie given I’ve worked with him before and owe him everything. But in addition to that, the club has real ambitions to be the very best it can be within the woman’s game and I want to help play a part in that.”

Wolecki Black added: “Kerry’s arrival is a massive statement of intent about where we want to go. She had suitors amongst several top league clubs, but when we explained our long-term vision and what we hope to achieve, she chose Motherwell.

“She’ll bring energy, enthusiasm, commitment and determination to our midfield and not only that, she’ll chip in with goals. She was critical to my plans and I am obviously delighted to have got the deal confirmed.”

Motherwell Ladies have made their first three new signings ahead of the 2018 season.

Two former Scotland internationals joined Eddie Wolecki Black’s side as they met up for their first training session at Fir Park on Friday night.

The first is Emma Black, who has spent her entire career to date at Glasgow City, starting out as a striker before reverting to centre defence.

Black returns after a short spell out of the game, having amassed 40 Scotland caps during his career and being City’s first ever European goal scorer, netting in the UEFA Women’s Champions League against Athletic Bilbao.

Goalkeeper Claire Johnstone is the team’s second signing.

She started her career at Kilmarnock before spells in Iceland and at Celtic, Glasgow City and Rangers. The 35-year-old also represented Scotland for eight years.

The third signing is defender Ashley Nicolson, who joins from Spartans. An established player in the Scottish Women’s Premier League for the last few years, she has also had spells at Hearts and Rangers.

“We have brought in three very experienced players in Ashley, Emma and Claire,” Manager Eddie Wolecki Black said of the signings.

“We will be looking to add more to the squad in the coming weeks. We have built a strong squad so far ahead of the new season.”

Motherwell Ladies start their SWPL2 season in February. Fixture details will be announced in due course.