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Motherwell coasted past local rivals Hamilton with a comprehensive 1-4 victory at New Douglas Park to secure their third straight Lanarkshire Derby win this season.

An emphatic Tiree Burchill hat-trick across both halves alongside a composed Carla Boyce penalty was enough to ensure all three points went to the claret and amber side of Lanarkshire.

Manager, Paul Brownlie made three changes from the side that secured a historic semi-final place in the Scottish Cup and a trip to Hampden after a convincing 3-0 victory over Glasgow Women at Cliftonhill last weekend.

Amy Anderson made her first start since returning from a recent injury spell, with Lori Gardner and Georgie Rafferty also featuring in the starting XI. Niamh Noble, Kayla Jardine and Jo Addie settled for a place on the bench.

The visitors were certainly the likelier to break the deadlock after the early exchanges.

A darting run by Kodie Hay saw the winger coast through to the edge of the box, before firing an ambitious attempt towards goal, but her strike narrowly evaded the far post.

Motherwell were still struggling to find their rhythm as the half-time whistle loomed, but they soon found the breakthrough.

Hay, again looking lively on the right, sprinted beyond her marker before drilling a low delivery across the face of goal, and Burchill was on hand to convert from a few yards out.

As the second half resumed, the women of steel increased the intensity, and soon took complete control of the game.

A skilful run from Lori Gardener saw the winger edge her way into the penalty area before teeing up substitute Gill Inglis’ whose close-range effort ricocheted through a number of bodies before falling kindly to the feet of Burchill, who calmly netted her second of the afternoon.

Less than two minutes later, Motherwell had their third. A clear handball in the box was spotted by the referee who correctly awarded the spot kick. Boyce stepped up and clinically dispatched her strike into the bottom right-corner for her seventh goal in recent prolific spell.

On the hour mark, Burchill secured her hat-trick and Motherwell’s fourth of the derby.

Latching onto Boyce’s incisive through ball, Burchill’s fast footwork allowed her to shift the ball onto her stronger right-foot before placing her strike into the bottom-left corner to secure Motherwell third successive Lanarkshire Derby triumph this season.

Paul Brownlie’s side will now turn their attention to Dundee United who are the visitors at K-Park next Sunday.

Niamh Noble, Kayla Jardine and Tiree Burchill have been named in Scotland’s Under 19 squad. 

The trio, who all joined in January, are available for Scotland’s upcoming UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship qualifiers against Albania and Liechtenstein.

Scotland take on Albania on Wednesday 5 April before they tackle Liechtenstein on Saturday 8 April.

Both matches take place at the Arena Kombëtare, Tirana.

• Albania v Scotland – Wednesday 5 April (1.30pm K.O)
• Scotland v Liechtenstein – Saturday 8 April (10.30am K.O) 

Motherwell have an opportunity to reach Hampden and the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup when they take on Glasgow Women on Sunday 19 March. 

Kick off is 2pm at Cliftonhill Stadium.

How to follow the game

Adult tickets for the match cost Adults £6.

Under 16s cost £3 with Under 12s going for free.

A pay-at-the-gate facility is available at the stadium.

Story of the match

Glasgow Women beat Ayr United in the previous round to the reach this stage.

The hosts are bottom of the SWPL table and are yet to pick up a point.

Motherwell narrowly missed out on top-six football, despite a convincing 3-1 win against Aberdeen.

The women of steel have progressed past Gartcairn and Montrose to reach the quarter finals.

Motherwell have came out on top in this fixture twice this season, winning 2-0 on the road and 4-0 at K-Park.

Motherwell’s post-split fixtures have been announced. 

Each team will play each other twice, home and away, in the second phase of the SWPL season.

The women of steel will begin the run in to the end of the season with a Lanarkshire derby on the road against Hamilton on Sunday 26 March.

They will end the 2022/23 season with two home matches, against Spartans on Sunday 14 May and Aberdeen on Sunday 21 May.

The women of steel narrowly missed out on a place in the top-six despite an emphatic and clinical 1-3 victory away to Aberdeen at Cormack Park.

The hosts snatched the opener against the run of play from the penalty spot after a dubious hand-ball decision, before a quick-fire Carla Boyce equaliser pulled the visitors level on the stroke of half time.

The striker secured her brace from the penalty spot midway through the second-half, with a late Kayla Jardine strike putting the game beyond any doubt. However, results elsewhere mean Motherwell will miss out on a top-six finish this season.

Manager Paul Brownlie made two changes from the side that cruised to a comfortable 2-1 victory over Dundee United last week. Emma Lawton and Kaela McDonald-Nguah both missed out through injury, with Niamh Noble and Lauren Doran-Barr both returning to the starting XI.

Neither side mounted any notable opportunities on goal, despite the end-to-end nature of the game.

However, the hosts fired themselves ahead minutes before the break. A drilled delivery from the right flashed across the face of goal, and much to the bemusement of the Motherwell players, the referee quickly awarded a spot kick for a suspected handball. Hannah Stewart stepped up, and calmly placed her strike beyond the reach of Emily Mutch.

Motherwell flooded the opposition box in search of an equaliser, and moments later they had their reward. A clever interchange of play between Tiree Burchill and Gill Inglis ricocheted into the path of Boyce, who floated an audacious effort over the keeper to bring her side level as the half-time whistle loomed.

On the hour mark, the visitors had overturned the early setback. A clever change of direction from Katie Rice wrongfooted her opponent, who caught the midfielder with a late-lunging tackle; leaving the referee no alternative but to award his second penalty of the evening. Boyce stepped up and coolly sent the keeper the wrong way for her second of the game.

As the full-time whistle drew closer, Motherwell had their third. An accurate long ball sliced through the high Aberdeen defensive line, leaving Jardine in acres of space, and the youngster made no mistake as she buried a powerful volley into the top-left corner.

Despite a magnificent team-performance, the women of steel miss out on the top-six by one single point. Paul Brownlie’s side will turn their attention to cup action next weekend, as a visit from Glasgow Women stands in their way from a trip to Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup.

It’s a big weekend for Motherwell as they take on Aberdeen in their final pre-split match.

Kick off is 4.10pm at Cormack Park.

Spectators will not be allowed entry to the facility.

Story of the match

It’s a three way shootout for the final spot in the top six this season with Motherwell, Patrick Thistle and Spartans all in contention.

With Motherwell a point behind Patrick Thistle, the women of steel would finish in the top six with a win against Aberdeen and Patrick Thistle draw or lose in their match against Dundee United.

A draw would be enough for Motherwell if Patrick Thistle lose and Spartans draw or lose.

The Women of Steel kept their top six hopes alive after claiming all three points in a thrilling encounter with Dundee United at K-Park.

A deflected Katie Rice strike broke the deadlock after seven minutes before Louisa Boyes directed a pinpoint Lucy Ronald cross beyond the keeper. United nabbed a consolation against the run of play in the second half, but the hosts stood firm to claim a vital result.

Manager Paul Brownlie made three changes from the side that suffered a tough midweek defeat to league leaders Glasgow City. Emma Lawton, Kaela McDonald-Nguah and captain Gill Inglis all returned to the starting XI whilst Kodie Hay and Lori Gardner settled for a place on the bench, with Lauren Doran-Barr missing out due to injury.

Motherwell were certainly the likelier of the two sides to break the deadlock after the early exchanges, with the opener coming minutes later.

Inglis’ exceptional run sliced through the United midfield before picking out Burchill whose floated delivery fell kindly to the feet of Rice, and the midfielders curling attempt deflected beyond the reach of the keeper to give the hosts the early advantage.

Motherwell continued to force the United defence deep into their own territory, and they soon doubled their advantage.

Ronald coasted into a pocket of space on the right with ease before drilling a pinpoint delivery towards the front post, and Boyes skilfully escaped her marker to prod home from a few yards out.

Brownlie was forced into making an early alteration after McDonald-Nguah landed awkwardly following a collision, forcing the striker off the pitch.

The hosts were certainly in the ascendency as the first-half drawn to a close. However, the visitors quickly pulled one back against the run of play.

Motherwell were caught on the counter attack as Rachael Todd raced through on goal, and the wingers low driven effort ricocheted off the feet off Lawton, wrong footing Emily Mutch before nestling into the bottom right corner.

Despite a late United resurgence, the women of steel stood firm to hold onto a vital three points, as they keep the push for a top-six finish alive ahead of next weekend’s trip to Aberdeen.

Niamh Noble has joined Motherwell on loan from Glasgow City until the end of the season. 

The left-sided full-back makes the switch to Lanarkshire as the women of steel push for top-six spot in SWPL.

She has been capped at Under 15 through to Under 19 level for Scotland, with her most recent call-up coming last year.

“I’m excited to be joining Motherwell for the remainder of the season,” Niamh Noble added.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to get to work with Paul, Leanne and the team and I can’t wait to get started.”

The 17-year-old will wear the number 15 kit this season.

“Niamh is another good addition to the squad,” head coach Paul Brownlie said.

“She is someone I’ve worked with before at youth national level and was desperate to get her to Motherwell. It’s another young, athletic player who will provide real energy and quality to the squad.”

Lauren Davidson got a brace as Motherwell fell to a 3-0 defeat to Glasgow City.

Emily Whelan also got on the scoresheet as Motherwell remain in the hunt for a top-six spot in SWPL.

Emily Mutch was called into action within in the first 15 minutes. Jenna Clark’s header was well saved from a corner and put around the post.

City continued to press forward when Whelan cut the ball back to Clark whose shot was blocked and Davidson’s subsequent effort was wide of the mark.

Mutch again proving difficult to beat, saved King Kodak’s effort from the edge of the box.

But the Motherwell stopper was eventually beaten on 27 minutes. Davidson involved again, played the ball on a plate for Whelan who tapped home in the 6-yard box.

The hosts doubled their lead when Claire Walsh’s cross-field pass found Davidson who fired home from a tight angle.

However, Motherwell tried to force some openings for themselves. Louisa Boyes and Lucy Ronald both having efforts on target from range but were comfortably stopped by Lee Gibson in the City net.

City made it three with 17 to go. Whelan powered her way to the byline before cutting the ball back to Davidson who finished to make it 3-0.

Motherwell are in midweek action against Glasgow City on Wednesday 1 March. 

Kick off is 7.35pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets can be purchased online.

Tickets are £8 for adults, £2 for under 16s and over 65s go for £6.

The match is also being broadcast live on BBC Alba.

Story of the match

Glasgow City are chasing the title this year and sit in pole position.

Three points clear of Celtic, City’s last slip up was in November when they drew with Rangers in SWPL.

Motherwell are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning three and drawing two.

Kaela McDonald-Nguah and Carla Boyce were on the scoresheet against Hamilton in their last outing, when Motherwell won the Lanarkshire derby 2-1.

The two sides last met back in August, when after nullifying City for 90 minutes, Motherwell conceded with the last kick of the ball to go down 1-0 at the hands of City.