Latest News

Motherwell were left to rue missed opportunities as they went down 3-0 at the hands of Celtic in SWPL1.

A first-half double for Rachel Donaldson and a goal from Sarah Teegarden was enough for the hosts to take all three points.

It would be Motherwell who had the best chance in the first 15 minutes, with Abby Skelton just missing Lori Gardner’s cutback for a tap in to break the deadlock.

The hosts, on the other hand, took their opportunity in the 17th minute. Some nice footwork from Ewens on the right wing saw her get to the byline and cross into the box for Donaldson to nod home.

Motherwell continued to try and get back in the game and missed a huge chance to level the game.

More good work from Gardner so the ball find its way to McDonald-Nguah, who laid the ball off for Gallon who fired over the bar from 18 yards.

Celtic then doubled their advantage in the 35th minute. After ‘Well failed to clear the initial cross, Donaldson pounced and finished into the bottom corner.

Five minutes later, Celtic secured the three points.

Celtic’s high pressing forcing Motherwell to lose possession. A cross from the right-hand side from Filbey was then met by Teegarden, who headed in.

Motherwell came out in the second half and put in a spirited performance and limited Celtic from adding to their advantage.

Celtic continued to control most of the possession and the game, however could not find the back of the net again.

Celtic host Motherwell in SWPL1 on Sunday.

Kick off at K-Park in East Kilbride is at 12pm.

The game is closed to supporters but is available to watch live on the BBC Scotland website.

Highlights of the match will also be broadcast live on BBC Scotland on Sunday evening.

Tale of the tape

The two teams have met four times since Motherwell’s promotion to the top flight in 2019.

A 0-0 draw away at K-Park marked the first game in SWPL1 for the women of steel.

That was then followed by a narrow 2-1 home defeat, before Celtic then extended their winning run in the fixture to three.

Form guide

Title-chasing Celtic find themselves five points behind leaders Glasgow City with 13 matches in the 21-game campaign played.

Since defeat to City in the opening game back from the season’s pause, Celtic have won five games in a row, including a home win over fellow challengers Rangers at Celtic Park.

During that time, they’ve netted 20 goals, conceding just twice.

Motherwell have won one and lost four of their last five league matches.

A victory against Hearts came alongside losses to Hibernian, Rangers, Spartans and Glasgow City.

Motherwell fell to a 6-0 defeat against title-chasing Rangers in SWPL1 on Sunday.

It took 20 minutes for the visitors to get ahead. Arnott’s cross from the left met the forward run of defender Swaby, who capitalised on Chelsie Watson’s missed header to steal in at the back post and finish.

Rangers continued to build attacks by stretching Motherwell across the full width of the park and they got their second on the 25-minute mark.

Docherty’s clipped cross from the left wasn’t cleared and it fell to Cornet, who smashed the ball into the net from 10 yards.

Five minutes later, it was three. Another ball from the left found the arriving Ness on the left of the box, taking the ball first time and lashing a shot into the top-left corner of the goal.

‘Well continued to defend endless balls into their box but would fall further behind 10 minutes into the second half.

A corner from the right landed on top of a cluster of bodies at the back post, with the ball hitting the post and falling kindly to Reilly at point-blank range.

Swinging at the ball, her goalbound effort hit the helpless goalkeeper Cunningham on its way in.

Shortly after, it was five. Ness’ reverse ball for Arnot matched the run into the box on the left, with the Scotland international finding the bottom-right corner of the net from a tight angle.

The women of steel continued to press and harass their full-time opponents but would fall to a sixth with 25 minutes to go.

Docherty’s clipped ball into the six-yard box found two Rangers players unopposed, with Reilly stealing in to knock the ball home.

Motherwell face Rangers in SWPL1 on Sunday.

Kick off at The Penny Cars Stadium is at 2pm.

The game is closed to supporters but is available to watch live on the BBC Scotland website.

Highlights of the match will also be broadcast live on BBC Scotland at 8.30pm on Sunday.

Tale of the tape

Rangers have won four and drawn one of their five meetings with the women of steel.

The last encounter came at the Rangers Training Centre in December, with the hosts winning 9-0.

Form guide

A 3-1 loss at Spartans last weekend marked ‘Well’s fourth defeat in five games since returning from the enforced break.

Successive 3-2 losses to Forfar Farmington and Hibernian were followed by defeat at Glasgow City, and then a 2-1 home win over Hearts to lift the team off the bottom of the table.

Rangers are in a battle with Glasgow City and Celtic at the top of the SWPL1 table.

Since the return, the Light Blues racked up four wins – scoring 23 goals without reply – but also crucially lost 1-0 in the derby with Celtic to damage their title hopes.

Programme

Motherwell put in another strong performance but were left empty-handed in defeat at Spartans.

Nicole Pullar cancelled out Sarah Clelland’s early opener at Ainslie Park, only for Becky Galbraith and Michaela McAlonie to seal a 3-1 win for the hosts.

The visitors had the bulk of the goal scoring chances in an evenly-contested first half, but found themselves behind at the interval.

Spartans opened the scoring in the 10th minute, after a ball down the channel was then cut back to find Sarah Clelland, whose left footed shot flew by McGregor in goal.

Motherwell then drew level after a well-worked move found Abby Callaghan, whose effort was then turned home by Pullar from six yards out.

Then, despite having another two good opportunities on goal, it was Spartans who took the lead again. A mistake was pounced on by Galbraith, who toe poked home her first of the game.

The second half was dominated by Motherwell, who saw plenty good play in the final third come to nothing.

Spartans increased their lead after a through ball was played to what looked like to be an offside McAlonie, who then lobbed the onrushing McGregor.

Again, the final 20 minutes was dominated by Motherwell, who kept Spartans back but couldn’t find another goal.

Motherwell head to Spartans in the latest round of SWPL1 fixtures on Sunday afternoon.

Kick off at Ainslie Park in Edinburgh is at 2pm.

The game is closed to supporters but a live stream will be available on the day. A link will be published on the day.

Tale of the tape

The two sides have faced four times since Motherwell’s promotion to the top flight in 2019.

Spartans have won two, with two draws sandwiched in between the two defeats for the women of steel.

Sunday’s opponents sit fourth in the table with 15 points from 11 fixtures, nine points better off than second-bottom ‘Well.

Form guide

Motherwell picked up their first win since the restart with a 2-1 home win against Hearts on Wednesday night.

Prior to that, a heavy defeat to Glasgow City came off the back of consecutive 3-2 losses at the hands of Forfar Farmington and Hibernian.

Spartans have won two and lost two since the April restart.

A 2-0 home win over Hibernian was followed by losses to Celtic and Rangers, before a 2-1 away victory over Forfar Farmington in midweek.

Motherwell claimed an important win over Hearts to lift themselves off the bottom of SWPL1 at the expense of their opponents.

Goals from Claire Adams and Nicole Pullar gave the women of steel their second victory against the Edinburgh club in the 2020/21 campaign in a 2-1 success.

A heated, hearty home performance saw a high intensity first half, in which Motherwell dominated most of the possession and attacks in the first 30 minutes.

Adams opened the scoring with 17 minutes on the lock. A well-worked move saw her get on the end of a cut back, which she dispatched cleanly into the top corner of the Hearts net.

Six minutes later, Motherwell doubled their lead. Lori Gardner pressed the Hearts defender high up the park and, after winning possession, she then drove into the box and cut the ball back for Pullar to finish into an empty net.

Motherwell then kept the pressure on Hearts and had several opportunities to extend their lead, only to find former Motherwell goalkeeper Ailey Tebbett on fine form and making several expert saves.

The second half saw Hearts start the quicker and on the front foot.

A change of shape and tempo saw them draw one back through a cross which came off the knee of Kirstie Macintosh and roll helplessly by Lauren McGregor in the Motherwell goal.

After that, the game became very even, with both sides limiting each other to longer distance efforts with neither goalkeeper being tested properly.

The game stayed on a knife-edge right until the last 15 minutes, with Motherwell pinned back in their own defensive third until the referee blew the final whistle to seal a big three points.

Motherwell: McGregor, Connor, C Watson, Adams, Inglis, J Gallon, Gardner, Pullar (McDonald-Nguah), Skelton (Callaghan), L Gallon.

Subs: Pollard, K Watson, G Crooks, Sinclair, M Crooks.

Motherwell host Hearts in the latest round of SWPL1 fixtures on Wednesday.

Kick off at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie is at 7.30pm.

The game is closed to supporters but is available to watch live online.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell were victorious in the opening meeting between the two sides earlier in the campaign.

The 3-0 win at Oriam brought the team’s only points of the season so far, with ‘Well looking to do an early double to get back up the SWPL1 table.

Form guide

An 8-0 loss to Glasgow City on Sunday sent the champions back to the top of the table.

Prior to the weekend, ‘Well lost their two matches after the restart by the odd goal in five, going down 3-2 to both Forfar Farmington and Hibernian.

Paired with Hearts’ draw with Forfar Farmington, the women of steel dropped to bottom spot, a point behind the Gorgie side.

Hearts had also lost their first two games back, going down 6-0 to Rangers and 3-0 to Celtic.

Motherwell head to face Glasgow City in SWPL1 on Sunday.

Kick off at Broadwood Stadium is at 4.10pm.

The game is closed to supporters but is available to watch live and free on BBC Alba.

Highlights of the match will also be broadcast live on BBC Scotland at 8.30pm on Sunday.

Tale of the tape

City have won the four encounters between the two sides since Motherwell’s promotion to the top flight in 2019.

The hosts were victorious 3-0 earlier in the season, having netted 27 without reply in the three games previous.

Form guide

City have won their two league matches since the return to league action, defeating Celtic 3-0 and Forfar Farmington by seven without reply.

Sunday’s opponents sit level on points at the top with Rangers, with a poorer goal difference keeping them in second spot.

‘Well have lost their two matches by the odd goal in five, going down 3-2 to both Forfar Farmington and Hibernian.

Motherwell lost out by the odd goal in five for the second week running, going down 3-2 away to Hibernian.

After a home loss to Forfar Farmington on the return to play last weekend, the women of steel went east to take on a typically formidable opponent at Ainslie Park.

Early pressure from both sides saw a scrappy start to affairs, but it would be Motherwell who would make their chance count when it arrived.

With 26 minutes gone, two waves of attack from the visitors forced a corner. Claire Adams put in the ball for Rosie Slater, who bulleted past the Hibernian keeper.

The lead though would last three minutes. Boyle’s through pass found Gallagher, who rounded goalkeeper Ramsay to slot home from a tight angle.

Then, shortly before half-time, the hosts took control. A similar pattern of play saw Boyle break through, before squaring to Cavanagh to score from eight yards out.

Motherwell came out determined to put up a fight to get back into the game but would be penalised by a handball decision on the edge of the box with a minute of the second half gone.

Chelsie Watson’s arms appeared to be by her side as the ball hit off her, but the resulting set play would see Gallagher find the top-right corner of the net to extend Hibs’ advantage.

The visitors continued to rally, and got a foothold back in the game with three minutes left ot play.

Good play saw the ball worked wide before finding Nicole Pullar in the box, who rose above Murray to head past the goalkeeper.

Motherwell pushed and pushed in the dying stages but couldn’t find the goal to take a point back to ML1.

Motherwell: Ramsay, Connor, C Watson, G Crooks (McLintock), Adams, Slater, Inglis, Gardner, Callaghan (Sinclair), Skelton (Pullar), Gallon.

Subs: Pollard, K Watson, Roberts, M Crooks.