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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.

Motherwell head to Hibernian next in SWPL1.

Kick off on Sunday at Ainslie Park is at 2pm.

The game is closed to supporters.

You can watch a live stream for free on Hibernian’s Facebook page.

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

Tale of the tape

Hibs have won all seven of the encounters between the two sides since the first meeting in June 2017.

Earlier this season, the Edinburgh side were 6-0 winners away against the women of steel.

Form guide

Both sides returned to action with defeat in their first SWPL1 matches on Sunday.

Motherwell put up a fight but ultimately lost out 3-2 at home to Forfar Farmington, while Hibs were defeated 2-0 at Spartans.

One place in the table separates the two teams, with Hibernian six points ahead in sixth spot, and Motherwell in seventh.

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.”