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An emphatic second-half comeback saw Motherwell overturn a two-goal deficit to earn a point on a frustrating but rewarding return to SWPL action at K-Park.

Two perfect penalties from Kaela McDonald-Nguah cancelled out first-half strikes from Rebecca Galbraith and Katherine Smart to complete a thrilling afternoon in East Kilbride.

Paul Brownlie made three changes from the side the cruised past Dundee United in the Sky Sports Cup over a fortnight ago. Lori Gardner and Katie Rice both returned to the starting XI, with Kodie Hay and Brogan Anderson having to settle for a place on the bench. Carla Boyce also returned to action following London Pollard’s midweek departure from the club.

Looking to continue their positive run of form, Motherwell tried to impose themselves from the off, with Lori Gardner testing the Spartans goalkeeper in the opening few minutes.

Latching onto Katie Rice’s through ball, Gardner darted across the face of goal before shifting the ball onto her right foot, but the forwards ambitious effort failed to trouble Alicia Yates.

Emily Mutch was forced into making a superb reaction save moments later. Smart’s floated delivery fell kindly to Tegan Reynolds at the edge of the penalty area, but Mutch reacted brilliant to parry the midfielders effort around the post.

Seconds after keeping her side in the game, it was a moment to forget for the Motherwell shot stopper. Mutch looked to have gathered Galbraith’s deceptive low shot, but the ball somehow slipped through her grasp before nestling into the back of the net.

As the half-time whistle loomed, the visitors netted their second of the game. Marshall’s pinpoint free-kick caught the static Motherwell defence off-guard, and Smart raced through to convert at the front-post.

Trying to find a route back into the game, Motherwell came close to pulling one back on the hour mark. Second half substitute Jemma Hughes pickpocketed Sarah Clelland deep into her own half before driving towards goal, but the striker couldn’t apply the finishing touches as her strike fell agonisingly over the crossbar.

With 20-minutes left to play, the hosts pulled one back. Lucy Ronald was bundled over in the box leaving the referee no alternative, but to award the penalty kick. McDonald-Nguah stepped up and confidently placed her effort past Yates.

Motherwell continued to flood the Spartans penalty area in search of a vital equaliser, and their efforts were rewarded 10 minutes from time. Nicola Jameison was caught wrong side of Lauren Doran-Barr in the box, and the referee soon awarded Motherwell their second spot kick.

McDonald-Nguah stepped up again and coolly sent Yates the wrong way to seal an excellent second half response from the women of steel.

Paul Brownlie’s side will now turn their attention to the Sky Sports Cup, as they face league leaders Rangers in the Quarter-finals on Sunday.

Motherwell return from the international break this weekend when they take on Spartans in SWPL. 

Kick off is 4pm at K-Park on Sunday 16 October.

How to follow the game

It will be pay-at-the-gate only for the game.

Tickets for adults cost £8, with kids and concession tickets costing £3. There will be cash and card turnstiles.

Story of the match

Motherwell’s last game was against Dundee United in the SWPL Cup, with the women of steel advancing to the next round with a 2-1 victory.

Spartans are unbeaten in their last three SWPL matches. In their last outing, they defeated Hearts in the SWPL Cup on penalties.

Motherwell won two of the three encounters against Spartans last season, drawing the third.

London Pollard has left Motherwell with her registration being terminated.

The striker joined the club in November 2021 and has made seven appearances this season.

The club wish London all the best for the future.

Motherwell took a step closer to their Sky Sports Cup dreams, as the women of steel dismantled visitors Dundee United to secure their place in the next round.

Kaela McDonald-Nguah’s magnificent strike from distance fired the women of steel into the ascendency midway through the first half, before Gill Inglis replicated her teammates strike minutes later.

Tammy Harkin pulled one back for the visitors in the second half, but Motherwell held out to progress to the next round of the Sky Sports Cup.

Following last weekend’s defeat to league leaders Rangers, Paul Brownlie made four changes from the previous outing, with McDonald-Nguah, Kodie Hay, Brogan Anderson and London Pollard all returning to the starting XI whilst Lori Gardner, Katie Rice, Carla Boyce and Georgie Rafferty all returned to the bench.

The hosts looked to impose their fluid possession game from the off, with United chasing the ball throughout much of the opening exchanges.

London Pollard’s darting run across the face of goal allowed her to skip past her opponent with ease before shifting the ball onto her stronger left foot, but the forwards off-balance attempt failed to trouble Fiona McNicoll.

Moments later, Motherwell were denied what looked like a certain penalty kick after Pollard was hauled down under the challenge of Jade McLaren, but the referee quickly waived play on despite the adamant pleas of the Motherwell players.

The hosts continued to threaten and deservedly netted the opener soon after. McDonald-Nguah was left unchallenged 20-yards from goal, and the strikers curling effort sailed beyond the reach of McNicoll before nestling comfortably into the top-left corner.

Motherwell continued to force the visitors to play with their own half, and moments later they had their second of the afternoon. Using her experience, Inglis skilfully drifted from her marker before latching onto Lucy Ronald’s through ball, and the midfielder replicated her teammates opener, dispatching her strike into the top-left corner.

As the second half resumed, United pulled one back. Motherwell failed to clear Cassie Cowper’s low corner kick, and McLaren’s through ball was easily converted by Harkin from a few yards out.

With United chasing an equaliser, Motherwell were forced to deflect wave after wave of attacking threats in the latter stages of the second half. Harkin’s low effort evaded everyone in the box before shattering off the outside of the post in a nerve-racking moment for the women of steel.

Nevertheless, the hosts stood resolute in the final few minutes to earn a precious place in the quarter-finals of the Sky Sports Cup.

Paul Brownlie’s side now await their fate in the next round before returning to league action against Spartans in a fortnight’s time.

Motherwell welcome Dundee United to K-Park in round two of the SWPL Cup on Sunday 2 October. 

Kick off is 4pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets for the game cost £8 for adults, with kids and concessions costing £3.

It will be pay-at-the-gate only, card or cash is accepted.

The Story of the Match

This will not be the first encounter between Motherwell and United this season.

On the opening day of the SWPL1 season, the ‘Well travelled to Dundee. The game would finish 1-1, with Kaela McDonald-Nguah scoring Motherwell’s only goal.

Motherwell have now faced the top four from last season in the opening six games of the season and sit on seven points.

Dundee United are also on seven points, beating Hamilton Accies 3-2 in their last outing. Prior to that, they were beaten 2-0 by Hearts.

Rangers kept their undefeated streak alive after capitalising on four clinical strikes to condemn Motherwell to defeat at a windswept Broadwood Stadium.

Lizzie Arnot prodded home the opener midway through the first half, before Kirsty Howat doubled Rangers’ advantage minutes after half time. Brogan Hay tucked home the third seven minutes later before Kayla McCoy secured all three points with the final kick of the game.

Motherwell looked to frustrate the hosts from the off, narrowing the play and making it difficult for Rangers to break through the resolute Motherwell backline.

Rangers were certainly the likelier of the two sides to find the opener after controlling much of the early exchanges. Tessel Middag’s low enticing delivery was superbly controlled by Kerr deep into the Motherwell penalty area, but the midfielder couldn’t apply the finishing touches.

The hosts continued to threaten and almost netted the opener soon after. A magnificent piece of skill from Brogan Hay allowed her to effortlessly break through the Motherwell defence before picking out Kirsty Howat lurking at the back post, but the forward couldn’t convert what was a gilt-edged opportunity.

Motherwell continued to deflect wave after wave of attacking threat in the opening 30 minutes, but the hosts quality eventually prevailed as they found the breakthrough midway through the first half.

Debutant Maddie Nolf was left in acres of space on the right of the Motherwell penalty area before curling an excellent delivery across the face of goal, and Arnot was on hand to prod her effort beyond the reach of Emily Mutch.

As the second half resumed, Rangers added a second. A quick interchange of play at the edge of the box somehow found its way through to the feet of Howat, who looked as if she had strayed into a clear offside position, but the referee waved play on and the forward calmly dispatched her strike into the bottom left corner.

Seven minutes later, Rangers had their third. An exceptional piece of individual skill from Hay allowed her to skip past several Motherwell players, before shifting the ball onto her right foot and curling a precise effort into the bottom corner.

Motherwell toiled late on in search of a late consolation. Substitute Kaela McDonald-Nguah’s long-range attempt had Jenna Fife scrambling in the Rangers goal, but the experienced stopper got enough of a hand to divert around the post.

Rangers sealed victory with the final kick of the game and in the strangest of circumstances. McCoy was flagged for offside as she raced through on goal, and whilst Mutch prepared to take the resulting free kick, the striker nipped in and passed the ball into the empty net.

Despite the Motherwell protests, the referee overruled his assistant and granted the goal much to the bemusement of the Motherwell players

Paul Brownlie will certainly have several positives to take from today’s contest, as the women of steel limited Rangers throughout much of the afternoon. Motherwell will now move on to face Dundee United in the SWPL Cup next month.

Motherwell take on Rangers in their latest SWPL outing on Sunday 25 September at Broadwood Stadium. 

Kick off is 4pm.

How to follow the game

Tickets for the game can be bought online.

Adult tickets cost £5 while Concession and Juvenile tickets cost £3.

Story of the match

Rangers were in Champions League action on Tuesday night against Benfica, losing 3-2 at Ibrox.

The Gers are flying high at the top of the SWPL table, winning five out of their five games so far.

Motherwell picked up three points in their most recent match against Glasgow Women at K-Park, with a 4-0 win.

Carla Boyce netted twice, with Lori Gardner and Amy Anderson also scoring.

Motherwell ran eventual league champions Rangers close in their two meetings, with Rangers coming away with 2-1 and 1-0 wins against the women of steel.

London Pollard has been named in Scotland’s Under 19 squad. 

A regular feature in the Scotland setup, Pollard will be involved in Scotland’s triple header in the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship qualifiers.

Scotland will remain on home soil for the three matches, with all games taking place at Ainslie Park.

In their first match on Wednesday 5 October, Scotland take on Spain.

Scotland then face off against Finland on Saturday 8 October before taking on Switzerland on Tuesday 11 October.