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A rampant first-half display over local-rivals Hamilton ensured that the women of steel secured their second Lanarkshire Derby triumph of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign at a rainswept New Douglas Park.

Louisa Boyes continued her exceptional recent goalscoring pedigree, rifling a low-shot beyond the reach of the Accies goalkeeper to fire the visitors into the ascendency within the opening phases of play. Lifelong Well supporter Amy Anderson punished the hosts defensive complacency shortly before the half-hour mark, prodding home Katie Rice’s whipped corner-kick.

Morgan Cross made it three less than 10-minutes later, with Bailley Collins rounding off a complete first-half performance soon after, netting a decisive fourth before the break.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie made three changes from the comprehensive four-goal victory over Spartans in the Scottish capital over a fortnight ago. Amy Anderson and Katie Rice both returned to the starting XI, with recent acquisition Brooke Nunn making her first competitive start since joining the club on loan from Hibernian.

Determined to overcome their recent derby day frustrations, Motherwell started firmly on the front foot, with the breakthrough coming within the opening phases of play. Nunn skilfully worked her way past her marker with ease before teeing up teammate Boyes at the edge of the penalty area, and the midfielder accurately netted her third SWPL goal in the past two games, drilling a low-strike beyond the reach of the Hamilton keeper.

The on-loan Hibernian winger continued to cause the hosts problems, shifting the ball through the Hamilton backline before curling a precise effort across the face of goal, but the Accies stopper reacted well to parry Nunn’s attempt beyond the reach of Cross.

Motherwell’s persistence was soon rewarded, with Anderson escaping her marker to latch onto Rice’s whipped corner-kick, and the experienced midfielder calmly doubled the women of steel’s advantage with an accurate close-range finish.

Motherwell continued to threaten the Hamilton defence, with Nunn finding space on the left before clipping an audacious 20-yard through ball to Kayla Jardine who coasted to the byline before teeing up Cross, who converted from close-range.

The fourth and final goal of the afternoon came shortly before the break, with Nunn again the provider, cutting in from the left and picking out Jardine at the edge of the penalty area, before eventually falling to the feet of Collins, who fired an accurate strike into the top-right corner.

The women of steel remain six-points behind nearest league rivals Aberdeen in seventh, with the two sides set to meet in East Kilbride at the end of the month.

The Lanarkshire derby back is back at the forefront of the domestic calendar, with the women of steel facing a highly-anticipated trip across the River Clyde in the first post-split fixture against local rivals Hamilton at New Douglas Park.

The return to SWPL action after a two-week hiatus follows an exceptional  victory over Spartans in the Scottish capital, with Motherwell firing four past the Edinburgh side to narrow the gap to Aberdeen in seventh.

With preparations underway, the expectations have been set for the squad, with the meeting in ML3 the first step in preserving the visitors SWPL status.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

Paul Brownlie’s side coasted into the post-split with ease after securing a hard-fought but deserving three points in a momentum-building league victory over Spartans at Ainslie Park.

Jo Addie got the women of steel off the mark inside the opening 10-minutes, with midfielder Louisa Boyes marking her return to the starting XI with a clinically-taken brace. Striker Morgan Cross also prodded home a close-range effort  in a comfortable four-goal cushion and assured performance over the nearest league rivals.

Striker Laura Berry will be unavailable, with the forward currently on international duty with Scotland in a triple-header of U17 Euro qualification matches against Denmark, Poland and North Macedonia.

Hamilton

After defeating the women of Steel at New Douglas Park in February, the Accies have picked up one point in the SWPL since, with a 92^nd-minute Spartans equaliser denying Accies their first back-to-back victories this season.

Hamilton then travelled to Links Park to face league rivals Montrose, but despite being held to a stalemate at the break, the Gable Endies resurged late on to secure a comfortable seven-goal victory.

Ticket Information

Cash & card payments are also available for this fixture.

• Adult – £8
• Concession – £5
• Under 16s – Free to enter

How to follow the action

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match.

Motherwell coasted into the post-split with the momentum after securing a hard-fought but deserving three points in a successive league victory over Spartans at Ainslie Park on Sunday.

Jo Addie got the women of steel off the mark inside the opening 10-minutes, drilling a low effort through the Spartans goalkeeper. Motherwell continued to control proceedings until Mya Bates stunned the visitors with an early second-half equaliser against the run of play.

Midfielder Louisa Boyes marked her return to the starting XI in style, restoring the advantage for Paul Brownlie’s side shortly before the hour mark. Morgan Cross prodded home a third from close-range in the latter stages of the game before Boyes secured her brace and Motherwell’s fourth in an exceptional display in the Scottish Capital.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie made four changes from the hard-fought defeat to defending champions Glasgow City over a fortnight ago. Goalkeeper Emily Mutch returned in goal, with Jo Addie, Sarah Gibb and Louisa Boyes all returning to the starting XI.

Looking to head into the post-split campaign on a high, Motherwell started firmly on the front foot, with Rangers loanee Laura Berry causing the hosts problems only moments into the game. The forward accurately read the opponents predictable through ball, making a comfortable interception beyond the halfway-line before driving towards of the edge of the Spartans penalty area, but the strikers powerful attempt arrowed agonisingly over the crossbar.

The visitors early momentum persisted, with the breakthrough materialising shortly after. Kayla Jardine’s floated corner kick sailed invitingly across the six-yard-box, ricocheting through several players before falling kindly to Addie 10-yards from goal, and the defender drilled a low effort through the legs of the Spartans stopper.

Motherwell were gifted the opportunity to double their advantage midway through the first-half, with Morgan Cross utilising her pace to escape her marker before being hauled down within the box. Bailley Collins stepped up, but reminiscent of her attempt in Meadowbank, the defenders low strike rattled the post. Despite converting the rebound, the referee quickly ruled the goal out for offside.

Motherwell’s control in the contest was soon undermined moments into the second half, with the hosts netting an equaliser against the run of play. Rebecca Galbraith’s pinpoint attempt struck the right-hand post, with Caley Gibb’s rebounded effort brilliantly parried clear by Mutch, but Bates reacted imminently to prod home a header from close-range.

Un-wavered by the motivation of the Spartans squad, Motherwell stuck to their gameplan and their efforts were rewarded 10-minuites later. Jardine proved to be the provider again, coasting into the Spartans penalty area with ease before clipping a dangerous delivery across the face of goal, and Boyes calmly placed a low strike into the bottom-right corner.

The third soon followed, with Motherwell capitalising on the counter-attack. Gibb’s close-range effort was again denied by the reactive Mutch, with Motherwell instinctively launching the ball deep into the final third of the pitch. Berry skilfully worked her way to the byline before teeing up Jardine, who’s low strike fell fortunately into the path of Cross, who dispatched a third goal into the bottom-left-corner.

In the final moments of the game, Motherwell decisively wrapped dup the game with a clinical fourth. Cross turned provider, driving to the byline before chipping a dangerous delivery across the six-yard-box, with Boyes finding space at the front post to convert her second of the game.

The final pre-split fixture of the 2023/24 SWPL season awaits the women of steel, with a highly-anticipated trip to the capital to face Spartans at Ainslie Park.

Three points separate Paul Brownlie’s side from the Edinburgh outfit, with both sitting precariously above the bottom-three ahead of an important run of post-split fixtures, with each side facing each other both home and away.

The expectations have been set for the squad, ahead of a crucial encounter that could be fundamental in retaining their SWPL status.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

A turbulent run of form for the women of steel persisted in East Kilbride over a fortnight ago, with defending champions Glasgow City cruising to a comfortable three-goal advantage, but the recent run of form fails to accurately reflect the performances of the squad, who have been unable to capitalise in the final third of the pitch.

Defeat in the Lanarkshire derby accurately reflected the women of steel’s frustrations this season, with Hamilton’s two shots on target prevailing over Motherwell’s 20-shots across the game, as the Accies secured their first Lanarkshire Derby victory this season.

Scotland International’s Laura Berry and Kayla Jardine will both return from international duty, as the pair featured in back-to-back victories over Wales, with Berry netting four and Jardine finding the target once.

Spartans

Spartans have briefly regained a positive run of form following a 12-game winless run, with a strong display over Aberdeen securing the Edinburgh sides place in the next round of the Scottish Cup, with an exceptional six-goal advantage over Dundee United in the league to follow.

Midfielder Hannah Jordan will be one-to-watch for the women of steel, with the 20-year-old netting three times in the last two encounters with Dundee United and Hamilton.

Ticket information

Cash & card payments are also available for this fixture.

• Adult – £8
• Concession – £4
• Under 16s – Free to enter

How to follow the action

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match.

A central component in the heart of Dundee United backline, defender Eve Donald cruised to the finale of the 2022/23 SWPL campaign, restoring top-flight football in the City of Discovery for another season.

Featuring 27-times for the Tangerines, the set-piece specialist and composed centre-half caught the eye of Paul Brownlie, who sought to enhance his defensive options, by attracting the 23-year-old to Lanarkshire.

“The Manager at Dundee United had informed me that an approach from Motherwell had come through,” Donald explained.

“After speaking with Paul and Leanne, I was really impressed with the professionalism at the club and their positivity about myself as a player. The conversation gave me a real feel of what the club is all about and it was an opportunity I simply couldn’t turn down.”

A central defender by trade, Donald’s versatility and consistency proved to be an enticing acquisition to an already weakened Motherwell backline, with Murron Cunningham facing an arduous spell on the sidelines. However, a sudden long-term injury ruled the experienced defender out of action for several months.

“It was one of the toughest times I have went through in football so far,” Donald emphasised.

“During a traditional warm-up in training, I had turned my body at speed to sprint and I instantly felt sharp pains across my back and suddenly couldn’t make any minor movement at all.

“After an assessment with the physio, I had twisted and irritated joints in my lower back which was hard to take as I understood that it wouldn’t be a fast recovery. I struggled to come to terms with everything the first couple days, but I knew I had to stay positive.”

After an extensive spell on the sidelines, with Donald featuring only twice in claret and amber since making the switch in the summer, the defender returned to competitive action, making her first Motherwell start against Glasgow City last weekend.

“Coming to a new club and getting an injury so early in the season was difficult to process and accept. Setbacks are always hard to accept but I just had to be positive and look forward to my return,” Donald said.

“Making my first start was a proud moment for me personally. There were nerves, but excitement as well. It’s something I’ve been working towards since my return from injury and I am delighted to be back on the pitch.

“Stepping back onto the pitch with the team following a long time out is one of the best feelings as a footballer. It’s a relief to finally be back playing football and playing my part, as we head into the final part of the season. Donald’s return comes at the perfect moment for the women of steel, with a trip to the capital to face Spartans preceding the post-split finale to the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.

“[The Spartans game] is a massive game for us, and it’s one we are all up for,” Donald outlined.

“Our performances against top of the table teams recently have been exceptional. We’ve went toe to toe with full time teams and played some really good football which we take positives from.

“We have shown what we are capable of, but we have to get the results that fairly reflect our performances which hopefully comes against Spartans, but it’ll be one we need to work hard for.”

Motherwell will end the 2023/24 season with a trip to the City of Discovery to face Dundee United.

The post-split fixtures will see the women of steel travel across the river Clyde to face local rivals Hamilton in the third Lanarkshire derby of the campaign before a double-header in East Kilbride, with Aberdeen and Dundee United the visitors.

A trip to the capital to face Spartans will precede another home double-header with Montrose and the return tie with the Edinburgh side. Paul Brownlie’s side will then face a lengthy run on the road, with encounters against Montrose and Aberdeen.

The run-in to the final two fixtures will open with a home encounter against Hamilton in the final Lanarkshire derby of the 2023/24 campaign before a visit to the City of Discovery to face Dundee United in the finale to the SWPL season.

Dates and kick-off times remain subject to change, dependent on TV selection.

Motherwell 2023/24 post-split fixtures

• Hamilton Accies (A) – Sunday March 17th
• Aberdeen (H) – Sunday March 31st
• Dundee United (H) – Sunday April 14th
• Spartans (A) – Wednesday April 17th
• Montrose (H) – Sunday April 21st
• Spartans (H) – Wednesday May 1st
• Montrose (A) – Sunday May 5th
• Aberdeen (A) – Sunday May 12th
• Hamilton Accies (H) – Wednesday May 15th
• Dundee United (A) – Sunday May 19th

The women of steel impressed under the floodlights of K-Park, closely challenging defending champions Glasgow City, but their assured performance was again left unrewarded, as the visitors stuck against the run of play to secure victory on an evening of mixed-emotions in East Kilbride.

Scotland International Lauren Davidson netted twice across both halves, with her third goal adjudged to have ricocheted off of Bailly Collins and beyond Cameron in the Motherwell goal.

“I’m proud of the team,” Head Coach Paul Brownlie said.

“The performance was excellent. We created numerous opportunities and some of the football was magnificent. I’m gutted for them in terms of the result.

“I was delighted with the level of application, I was just desperate for them to score and it is just that defining moment that needs to come for them.”

Brownlie made three changes from last weekend’s frustrating Lanarkshire derby defeat to local rivals Hamilton, with Rebecca Cameron returning in goal, Eve Donald partnering Chelsie Watson in the centre of the Motherwell backline and weekend goalscorer Laura Berry leading the line alongside Morgan Cross.

The hosts had the closest opportunity within the opening phases of play, as January acquisition Laura Berry battled her way from midway through the Motherwell half to the edge of the Glasgow City penalty area, with the forward teeing up Gill Inglis from roughly 12-yards out, but the skipper couldn’t apply the finishing touches, as her low strike fell wide of the target.

The hosts continued to threaten, with Inglis’ floated delivery sailing dangerously across the City six-yard-box, but the looping cross fell agonisingly beyond Berry, who was lurking at the back post.

Motherwell’s early attacking determination was soon undermined, as City netted the opener against the run of play, with Davidson powering home a headed effort from close-range.

Cameron was soon called into action moments later, with the Motherwell shot stopper reacting quickly to parry Davidson’s deflected effort, that flashed towards the bottom-right corner.

As the second half resumed, Motherwell continued to build themselves into the ascendency, with Morgan Cross narrowly denied after connecting on the half-volley, but the strikers effort fell inches wide of the far post.

Less than a minute later, the women of steel were again denied the equaliser. Chelsie Watson’s close-range free-kick curled accurately towards the top-right corner, but City stopper Lee Gibson somehow manged to claw the ball clear from what looked a certain goal.

Moments after being denied the equaliser, the visitors caught the women of steel on the counter-attack, reinforcing their advantage with a decisive second, as Davidson’s low delivery deflected off of Collins before nestling into the bottom-left corner.

Motherwell rallied late on, but City capitalised on the hosts attacking formation, with Davidson picking out the bottom-left corner to secure all three points for the defending champions.

A disappointing and frustrating defeat to local rivals Hamilton in the second Lanarkshire derby of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign left the women of steel dejected after a confidence-boosting performance over title-chasers Celtic earlier in the week.

Paul Brownlie’s side will face a swift return to action, with an opportunity for redemption over defending champions Glasgow City, who left K-Park with all three points in the previous home meeting, after a decisive 97^th-minute Jenna Clark winner.

As the final pre-split fixture in East Kilbride awaits the women of steel, the squad will be prepared to conclude the regular campaign on a high, ahead of a highly-anticipated encounter with Spartans in the capital next month.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

The women of steel’s goalscoring woes persisted in ML3, as a commanding performance over local rivals Hamilton, which had Motherwell testing the Accies goal on 23-occasions – 19 more than the hosts, was ultimately left unrewarded. Hamilton struck twice against the run of play to secure victory on a disappointing and frustrating derby day in Lanarkshire.

Hamilton forward Josephine Giard and teammate Chloe Muir both added their name to the scoresheet across both halves to give the hosts a comfortable advantage, with debutant Laura Berry netting a late consolation for her first goal in claret and amber.

The 90-minutes at New Douglas Park perfectly encapsulated the frustrations of the women of steel this season, as positive performances and impressive displays have not been accurately reflected in the SWPL league table.

Glasgow City

The defending champions remain firmly in the chase to defend their SWPL crown, with the Springburn side six-points adrift of league leaders Rangers, maintaining an impressive eight-game winning run in the league.

Talisman Lauren Davidson will be a formidable opponent for the Motherwell backline, with the experienced striker netting 10-times across the season.

Ticket information

Cash & card payments are also available for this fixture.

• Adult – £8
• Concession – £5
• Under 16s – Free to enter.

How to follow the action

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match.

Midfielder Tara McGonigle has joined Gartcairn on loan until the end of the season.

The summer acquisition traded Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton for ML1 ahead of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign, but the 23-year-old has since been unable to find regular first-team minutes at K-Park.

McGonigle featured on 14-occasions across her time in claret and amber, but the regular place in the starting XI has yet to materialise.

The youngster heads out on loan to the SWPL2 side in search of consistent first-team minutes, linking-up with fellow Motherwell loanees Kaela McDonald-Nguah and Morgan Hay. Gartcairn sit precariously at the foot of the SWPL2 league table, three points from safety.

Good luck, Tara.

Buoyed by an exceptional display against title-chasers Celtic, Motherwell’s optimism was confidently restored, as the women of steel return to action this weekend in the second Lanarkshire Derby of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.

Paul Brownlie’s side will travel across the River Clyde to New Douglas Park, aiming to replicate the preceding derby day result at K-Park, with Motherwell cruising to a comfortable four-goal advantage.

As the final pre-split fixtures near, Motherwell will be preparing to retain their 100-percent Lanarkshire  derby record over Hamilton.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

Despite leaving East Kilbride without points to reflect their efforts in a closely-fought encounter with Celtic, Paul Brownlie’s side will be encouraged with their attacking and defensively-improved performances in recent weeks.

The women of steel recorded their first derby day victory over Accies this season in August, with a Carla Boyce hat-trick and Kaitlyn Canavan strike being the difference on that day.

The Lanarkshire Derby test will be the first of a triple-header of fixtures, with encounters with Glasgow City and Spartans to conclude the final pre-split fixtures of the 2023/24 SWPL campaign.

January acquisitions Laura Berry and Sophia Martin will both be available for contention within the matchday squad for the first time since signing on-loan from Rangers and Glasgow City.

Hamilton

The Accies aided their SWPL relegation-survival efforts after an impressive 4-1 victory over Dundee United in the City of Discovery to achieve their first league victory this season, but a disappointing Scottish Cup exit to Celtic and a 6-0 defeat to Glasgow City in the league have resulted since.

Hamilton sit on six-points, three adrift from nearest rivals Spartans, with Montrose and Dundee United both one-point ahead of the Edinburgh side.

Ticket information

Cash & card payments are also available for this fixture.

• Adult – £8
• Concession – £5
• Under 16s – Free to enter.

How to follow the action

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match.