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Motherwell were made to rue missed chances as they lost out 3-2 against Forfar Farmington on their return to SWPL1 action.

Second half goals from Ryan, Cowper and Bruce ensured defeat for the women of steel in their first match back after the prolonged break.

‘Well went into the game with interim coaches Stewart Hall and Willie Kinniburgh in the dugout, following the departure of Eddie Wolecki Black in midweek.

Motherwell had the first chance of the match. Callaghan’s low drive was well saved by Perry, after she had sprung the offside trap after a delightful through ball from Adams.

McDonald-Nguah was next to test the visiting keeper, her brilliant touch on the far side taking out two defenders and her curling effort going agonisingly over the bar from just outside the box.

Motherwell looked like a team hungry to improve on a poorer earlier start to the SWPL1 campaign and Perry was forced to make another smart stop from McDonald-Nguah soon after. Skelton’s cross was deflected into her path and her effort was straight at the keeper.

Kilcoyne nearly put the visitors ahead after a mix-up from a corner left home goalkeeper Ramsay exposed. She recovered well to eventually smother the ball after the Forfar forward looked destined to score, sending the two teams in level at the break.

The second half would see the match open up further, as both teams felt the effect of playing their first competitive match for months.

Callaghan started the second half with an early effort that just went wide, after she found space outside the box, while McDonald-Nguah was a constant menace for the Forfar backline with her craft and guile.

But the visitors opened the scoring from a well-worked corner. An inch-perfect ball gave Ryan an easy header from close range and she made no mistake finishing well.

Motherwell rallied and quickly levelled the match. After a stramash in the box, the ball was cleared out to Callaghan, who expertly shot from outside the box to make it 1-1.

Shortly after, the visitors retook the lead. Cowper’s long-range lob caught out Ramsay in goals, who could only watch on as the ball flew into the top corner.

Fraser nearly sealed the three points for the visitors when the ball deflected to her in the box, but she blasted the ball well over to the relief of the Motherwell defence.

Sinclair and McLintock replaced Callaghan and Skelton as ‘Well looked to bring fresh legs into their attacking play. Crooks was the next player to have an effort at goal, but she rushed her attempt just inside the box and the ball flew past the post.

Motherwell then missed a golden chance, McDonald-Nguah played in Sinclair after great hold-up play, but she lost her composure at the vital moment and gave Perry an easy save after a tame effort.

Forfar sealed the three points when Bruce punished a lack of concentration at the back, finding herself goalside from Watson and finishing well past Ramsey.

Motherwell then pulled one back when substitute McLintock fired home from range to ensure a nervy ending at The Penny Cars Stadium, but the visitors held out for the victory – which keeps Motherwell rooted second bottom.

‘Well now face a trip to Ainslie Park to take on Hibernian next Sunday, Kick off is at 2pm.

Motherwell: Ramsay, Connor (Swanson), C Watson, G Crooks, Adams, Slater, Inglis, McDonald-Nguah, Gardner, Callaghan (McLintock), Skelton (Sinclair).

Subs not used: Pollard, K Watson, Roberts, M Crooks.

REACTION

Assistant coach Stewart Hall was happy with the performance, despite the result.

“The three goals we conceded were poor and we will work on them,” he said. “But to score two well-worked goals like we did was pleasing.

“Most importantly, our team performance was back to the levels we expect here at Motherwell.

“We came in at the break knowing we should have been ahead in the match, but that’s what happens in this division. You have to take your chances against a team like Forfar because they have bundles of experience.

“To lose two set pieces, a corner and a free kick was disappointing, but those are things we can work on. Our application was spot on.

“If we continue to play like we did today, results will come. We need to look ahead of ourselves and not behind us.”

The SWPL1 season restarts with Motherwell hosting Forfar Farmington.

Kick off on Sunday is at 2pm.

The game is closed to supporters.

You can buy and watch a live stream of the game for £5 here.

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

Tale of the tape

Forfar won the opening game of the campaign at home to Motherwell at Station Park.

A 4-2 victory for the hosts that day in October came in an end-to-end match, with Donna Paterson and London Pollard scoring doubles.

Form guide

Both teams have been out of action since mid-December, having completed seven league games. During the break, there was an interesting trend among fans discussing Canada Crypto Casino lists as a new form of entertainment while football was on hold. The rise of these crypto-based platforms has gained attention for offering fast, anonymous transactions and exciting gaming options, much like the unpredictability of a football match.

Motherwell’s sole win in those seven games came away to Hearts, keeping them above the Edinburgh side on goal difference at the bottom end of the table.

Forfar are four points and one position ahead in the table, having defeated Motherwell and Hearts, as well as drawing with Celtic.

Match programme

Eddie Wolecki Black has left his post as manager of the Motherwell FC women’s team.

Following discussions with the club, Eddie is leaving to concentrate on a degree course at a local college.

Assistants Stewart Hall and Willie Kinniburgh have agreed to lead the team on an interim basis.

Wolecki Black first joined the club in 2018 and, together with assistant Donald Jennow, led the club to the SWPL2 title and promotion to the Scottish top flight. The pair also guided ‘Well to their first Scottish Cup final in 38 years.

After leaving for a short stint at Celtic, Wolecki Black returned in late 2019, ahead of the proposed 2020 campaign.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to the season, with the league campaign resuming on Sunday after a lengthy break.

“I want to put on record my thanks to Eddie for all he has done for Motherwell in his time with us,” Motherwell chief executive Alan Burrows said.

“He achieved everything we asked him to and more. However, we both felt that this was probably a good time for a change, allowing the club to focus on a new direction, particularly with next season in mind.

“I would like to wish Eddie every success, particularly with his impending degree and with his future football career.”

Wolecki Black added: “I am grateful for the opportunities Motherwell Football Club have provided me with to grow the women’s team over my two spells here.

“We have made great strides forward to become a top-flight team, and the club has every chance of continuing to build on that in the coming months and years.

“I wish everyone at the club all the best for the future and the resumption of the league season.”

Back in action with a special kit to mark our return.

Motherwell get back to Scottish Women’s Premier League 1 action on Sunday 4 April, after a break in the season due to Covid-19.

To mark the comeback, our players have designed their own special away strip in conjunction with You Are My Sunshine, a North Lanarkshire-based mental health charity.

You can buy yours on pre-order now. The profits from every sale will be donated to YAMS. Shirts will be delivered in mid-to-late May.

“You Are My Sunshine (YAMS), Gemma’s Mental Health Charity started in 2018 after our chair, Rhonda Jones, lost her younger sister Gemma to suicide,” said a spokesperson for the charity.

“After recognising the lack of mental health support available in the area, Rhonda and a group of local volunteers decided to turn the tragedy and grief of Gemma’s death into a positive action, to ensure services and support was accessible to all in a timely manner and to prevent another person and another family going through the same pain they had suffered.”

To find out more about YAMS, or seek support, visit them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, go to their website or email enquiries@yams.org.uk.

“We are delighted to be combining the launch of a new kit with support for YAMS,” added Alan Burrows, chief executive of Motherwell FC.

“The role they play in offering mental health support is invaluable and we are delighted to partner with them to spread the message further.

“We also extend our thanks to Pitch Teamwear for helping with the creation and purchase of the kits.”

Our SWPL1 campaign will resume on Sunday 4 April at home to Forfar Farmington.

After an enforced break due to Covid-19, Motherwell will play the remaining 14 games between then and Sunday 6 June.

Contingency is in place to scrap the last seven matches, should circumstances over the resumption of sport change.

Motherwell currently occupy seventh spot in the table with seven games played.

Full list of 2020/21 SWPL1 remaining fixtures

Three of our SWPL1 fixtures have been postponed, following the Scottish FA’s suspension of the league.

In light of the escalating Covid-19 situation across the country, matches with Forfar Farmington, Hibernian and Glasgow City have been cancelled.

All football outside of the Scottish Premiership and Championship will be suspended from midnight on Monday 11 January.

The suspension will run until 31 January inclusive and reviewed on a rolling basis by the Scottish FA board, in partnership with the Scottish Government.

Motherwell ended 2020 with a home defeat against Celtic in SWPL1.

The visitors left with a 5-0 win, netting four in the second half after finding the women of steel difficult to break down early on.

Motherwell almost got in at the break level, but the resistance was broken three minutes from the interval. Robertson’s volley from just inside the area beat Ramsay and put Celtic ahead.

Seven minutes into the second period, it was 2-0. Robertson played in Ewens, who clipped the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper.

The third came five minutes later. Ross’ commitment to chase a ball to the byline and lift in a cross, which Donaldson cushioned in with a header.

Craig’s shot into the bottom corner in the 69th minute made it four, before McAllister’s through ball to Ewens saw her net her second of the afternoon.

Motherwell now enter a winter break, which ends when Forfar Farmington come calling on 17 January.

Motherwell: Ramsay, Baillie, C Watson, Connor, K Watson, Sinclair, Adams, Skelton, Gardner, Callaghan, Hay.

Subs: Pollard, Crooks, Rice, Trialist, Roberts, Swanson, McDonald-Nguah.

The calendar year concludes for Motherwell on Sunday in SWPL1, as Celtic come calling.

Eddie Wolecki Black’s side are looking to recover from a heavy defeat to Rangers last weekend, and take on another of the league’s full-time squads in trying to do so.

Kick-off on Sunday 13 December at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie is at 12.30pm.

The match, which is closed to supporters, can be watched for free live online on the BBC Sport Scotland website.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell and Celtic have faced each other four times over the years.

A Scottish Cup win for the Hoops back in 2015 was followed by a 0-0 draw on the first SWPL1 meeting back in March 2019.

A 2-1 win for Celtic at Ravenscraig was then followed by a 5-0 victory for our opponents in November last year.

Form guide

Celtic sit five points off the top after six games, with Rangers two points ahead and Glasgow City leading by five.

The Glasgow side looked to be on the end of a shock home defeat to Forfar Farmington last weekend, before two late goals salvaged a 2-2 draw.

An opening day defeat to Glasgow City was followed by four wins on the bounce, scoring 18 goals and conceding two.

Defeat to Rangers last weekend made it one win from six for the women of steel on SWPL1 business this campaign, with the sole victory so far coming in a 3-0 crushing at Hearts.

Gaining experience

“Facing the full-time players at Rangers and Celtic in successive weeks is going to be a challenge,” manager Wolecki Black said.

“That said, it is an opportunity for our team to gain experience against top players, and take the lessons learned into the new year.

“We have been competitive against Glasgow City and Hibernian already this season, and we’ve shown we can compete against the bigger teams. Hopefully, that will be the case again on Sunday.”