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Motherwell cruised to their first league win of the season after defeating rivals Hamilton 3-0 at Alliance Park in the first Lanarkshire derby.

Leanne Crichton would open the scoring from the penalty spot before Lori Gardner added a spectacular second on the stroke of half-time.

Academy graduate Jemma Hughes would fire home the third in the second half to secure the women of steel’s first three points of the season.

Motherwell applied the early pressure and were unfortunate not to open the scoring in the early stages.

Kodie Hay’s cross from the right was superbly flicked on by Claire Crosbie, but Hamilton would clear their lines after a goal-line scramble.

Minutes later, Crichton’s in-swinging cross was met by Hughes at the back post, but the striker’s powerful header sailed narrowly above the crossbar.

Motherwell would be awarded a penalty midway through the first half after Crichton’s powerful effort struck the hand of a Hamilton defender.

Crichton stepped up and confidently placed her strike past Sarah Rhind to open the scoring for the hosts.

Motherwell came close to doubling their advantage minutes later. Amy Anderson’s pass was brilliantly controlled by Hay, who turned and rifled a long-range volley towards goal, but her dipping effort was superbly parried away by the keeper.

The women of steel would add a second in the latter stages of the first half.

Gardner found space on the right, and skilfully passed her opponent with a clever nutmeg before firing her strike into the top corner to give her side a comfortable advantage heading into half-time.

The Well would add a third on the hour mark. Gardner’s perfectly weighted through-ball found Hughes unmarked at the edge of the box, and the forward skilfully beat her opponent before calmly firing her strike into the top left corner.

The result will be a confidence boost for Motherwell who move off the foot of the table, before they travel to face Spartans next week.

Motherwell face newly promoted rivals Hamilton Academical in the first Lanarkshire derby of the 2021/22 SWPL1 season.

Kick off on Sunday 3 October will be at 4pm at Alliance Park.

Tale of the Tape

This will be the first meeting of Motherwell and Hamilton.

Form Guide

Motherwell are still looking for their first points in SPWL1 this season, off the back of a 4-0 defeat to Celtic on Wednesday night.

Accies have won one game in the league this season against Hearts and come into the game having lost to champions Glasgow City 3-1.

Prior to that, they were beaten by Aberdeen 1-0 in the clash of the promoted sides.

Motherwell will be encouraged with their performance despite suffering a 4-0 defeat to Celtic at the Penny Cars Stadium on Wednesday.

Charlie Welling would fire the hosts in front from close range early on, before adding her second of the game on the stroke of half-time.

An unfortunate Jo Addie own goal would give Celtic a third, before a late Clarissa Larisey strike sealed victory for the visitors.

Motherwell applied the early pressure and were unfortunate not to open the scoring in the early stages.

Leanne Crichton’s perfectly-weighted through-ball found Gemma Hughes unmarked at the edge of the box, and the forward skilfully beat her opponent before firing her strike towards goal, but her effort was easily gathered by the keeper.

Minutes later, Gill Inglis’ clever interception deep into the Celtic half released Lori Gardner, who burst with pace before placing her strike past Chloe Logan. However, the winger’s effort landed agonisingly wide of the Celtic post.

Despite Motherwell’s early chances, it would be the visitors who would find the opener after 15 minutes.

Chloe Warrington’s in-swinging cross found Welling unmarked in the box, and the forward calmly placed her strike past Khym Ramsay from close range.

Celtic would double their advantage on the stroke of half-time. Shen Mengyu’s low-driven cross again found Welling unmarked in the box, and the striker coolly slotted her strike past Ramsay into the bottom left corner.

The league leaders would add a third in the latter stages of the game. Rachael Donaldson was left in acres of space on the right, and the midfielder’s powerful low cross was inadvertently deflected past Ramsay by teammate Addie’s tackle into the bottom left corner.

With 10 minutes left to play, Celtic would seal all three points by adding a fourth. Donaldson’s whipped in free-kick was parried away by Ramsay, but only as far as Larisey who comfortably followed up from a yard out.

Motherwell will be encouraged with their display and will have positives to take before they host Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton in the first-ever women’s Lanarkshire derby later next month.

Defender Murron Cunningham has signed from Heart of Midlothian.

The 22-year-old, who has turned out for Hearts and champions Glasgow City previously, joins up with Paul Brownlie’s side having won the Players’ Player of the Year at the Jambos last season.

“We are continuing to add quality to the squad,” head coach Brownlie said.

”Murron will bring vast experience and real leadership qualities that will complement the squad.

“She is only 22 and I believe she has real quality that she can continue to develop and take her game to the next level.”

Cunningham, who can play in defence or midfield, is looking forward to the future.

“I’m looking forward to starting fresh here at Motherwell,” she added.

”It’s something that I feel I can contribute to looking into the future.

“I’m ready to give my best here at Motherwell and hopefully help the team progress as much as possible”

Cunningham will wear the number 28 kit this season.

Motherwell return to action on Wednesday 29 September when they take on Celtic at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie.

Kick off is at 8pm. The game is being played behind closed doors.

Tale Of The Tape

Motherwell last faced Celtic in their final SWPL1 fixture of the 2020/21 season, with the opposition running out 8-0 winners.

The last time Motherwell picked up points in this fixture was in March 2019, when they drew 0-0 away from home.

Form Guide

Motherwell come into this game after a weekend break due to international call ups.

Prior to the break, Motherwell were beaten by a late Partick Thistle goal which saw them sink to a 3-2 defeat.

Celtic are unbeaten in the league thus far, where they have only dropped points against champions Glasgow City, when they drew 2-2.

Our postponed fixture against Celtic in SWPL1, which was due to be played on Sunday 19 September, has been rearranged to Wednesday 29 September.

The game will be played behind closed doors at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie.

Kick off is 8pm.

Motherwell suffered a late defeat to Partick Thistle in SWPL1 on Sunday.

Jade Greenshields would fire the hosts in front after 10 minutes, before Lori Gardner levelled minutes later with a well-placed header.

Kaela McDonald-Nguah would then put Motherwell ahead from close range, but Cara McBrearty would pull the hosts level in the second half.

Then, with the match seemingly destined for a draw, Freya MacDonald netted her side a late winner.

The hosts would take the lead early into the first half. Claire Adams’ loose pass was intercepted deep into her own half, and after a quick interchange of play, Greenshields fired her strike past Khym Ramsay into the bottom right corner.

However, Motherwell would find the equaliser minutes later. Kodie Hay’s floated cross found Gardner unmarked at the back post, and the winger’s well-placed header beat the keeper from close range.

The visitors would then take the lead midway through the first half. Leanne Crichton’s long throw was spilled by McGregor, and McDonald-Nguah rifled her strike into the top corner from a few yards out.

Thistle would pull the sides level again minutes into the second half. London Pollard skilfully danced her way past several Motherwell challenges, before playing through teammate McBrearty, who calmly tapped into the empty Motherwell net.

The women of steel toiled in the second half in search of a winner and came close in the latter stages of the game.

Hay’s whipped in cross whistled across the face of goal, and agonisingly missed Adams in the box, who would’ve only required the slightest touch to restore Motherwell’s advantage.

However, Thistle would find the winner in the dying stages of the game. Rosie Slater’s long ball found MacDonald unmarked in the box, and the midfielder’s powerful effort sailed past Ramsay into the top right corner to secure all three points for the hosts.

Forward Abby Callaghan has left Motherwell, with her contract being cancelled by mutual consent.

The 20-year-old joined the women of steel in the summer of 2019 from Stirling University and went on to enjoy two full seasons in the claret and amber.

The club would like to thank Abby for her efforts and wish her well for the future.