Latest News

Motherwell play their penultimate match before the SWPL1 winter shutdown with a trip to face Rangers.

Kick-off on Sunday 6 December at the Rangers Training Complex is at 3pm.

The match, which is closed to supporters, will be broadcast live on RangersTV.

Tale of the tape

The four meetings between Motherwell and Rangers have been keenly-contested affairs to date.

The first came in the SWPL Cup in 2018, as second-tier Motherwell lost 1-0 away from home.

Since then, a 3-3 home draw in their first league encounter was followed by a 4-3 win for Rangers, and a 3-1 victory for the Light Blues thereafter.

Form guide

Rangers have won four of their five SWPL1 fixtures this season, finding themselves level on points with Celtic and three points off leaders Glasgow City.

A home victory to Hearts was followed by away wins at Spartans, Hibernian and Forfar Farmington. The one black mark came in a 1-0 home loss to Celtic.

Motherwell have one win from a difficult opening five games, which came in a 3-0 thumping of Hearts away from home.

A chance to make an impact

“Our two games before the break are Rangers away and Celtic at home,” said manager Eddie Wolecki Black.

“Both have made strides to improve in the last year and they are in good form this year. But we are definitely capable of getting something from the match.

“We’ve shown this season we have the ability to trouble any team we come up against. We will head to Glasgow in a positive frame of mind.”

Motherwell were edged out 2-0 at home in their SWPL1 encounter with Spartans on Sunday.

Goals from Kat Smart and Louise Mason in either half ensured defeat for Eddie Wolecki Black’s side, who had to contend with the loss of goalkeeper Ailey Tebbett early on in the match.

The first came with 18 minutes on the clock. Smart’s drive into the box led to a shot which took a deflection on the way through but found the net.

Both sides had chances before the break but it would be the visitors who would take the next important one with an hour gone.

Clelland’s run down the left saw her cross find Mason to steer the ball home, consigning the women of steel to defeat.

Motherwell: Tebbett (Ramsay), Connor, C Watson, Baillie, Adams, Crooks, Sinclair, Rice, Callaghan, K Watson, Gardner.

Subs: Hay, Reside, Roberts, Swanson, McDonald-Nguah, Skelton.

After victory against Hearts at the weekend, Motherwell look to make it two wins from two when they host Spartans in SWPL1.

Kick-off on Sunday 22 November at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie is at 12.30pm.

A live stream of the match can be purchased for £5 by clicking here.

The game is closed to supporters.

Tale of the tape

The last two encounters between Motherwell and Spartans have been tight affairs, with both ending in draws.

A 2-2 score came in their last encounter back in October 2019 at Ainslie Park, two months after a 0-0 home draw for Motherwell.

Prior to that, Spartans won the opening two games of 2019, while Motherwell won the first-ever encounter between the pair in a 3-1 Scottish Cup semi-final victory at Forthbank in 2018.

Form guide

The win in Edinburgh ended a run of three defeats for the women of steel. An opening day 4-2 loss at Forfar Farmington was followed by home defeats to Hibernian and Glasgow City.

Spartans also sit on three points from four games but with a six-goal better goal difference.

An opening day 2-1 defeat to Hibernian came before 1-0 losses to Celtic and Rangers. A 1-0 home win against Forfar Farmington came last weekend.

Positive signs after first win

“The players showed what they’re capable of winning so convincingly at Hearts,” manager Eddie Wolecki Black said.

“When we were put under pressure, we dealt with the challenge, and we took our chances when they came.

“We are level on points with Spartans, so it’s another opportunity for us.”

match programme

Motherwell picked up their first win of the SWPL1 season with a convincing 3-0 victory at Hearts on Sunday.

Goals from Lori Gardner, Katie Rice and Chelsie Watson secured the three points on the road for Eddie Wolecki Black’ side in Edinburgh.

An unchanged squad took to the pitch at the Oriam, where both teams were looking to get their first points on the board.

Motherwell were the team who started the brighter, with Claire Adams and Georgie Crooks finding themselves with most of the ball.

The better start turned into a lead when Kacey Watson won the ball on the left. A pass to captain Katie Rice saw her thread a perfectly timed and weighted ball through to the onrushing Gardner, who calmly slotted past the goalkeeper.

Motherwell then continued to have the better of the play but with no real end product, with final passes and crosses only finding the Hearts ‘keeper.

Hearts started to find themselves getting back into the game with some aggressive and direct balls. However, Ailey Tebbett was a match for everything they came up with.

Then, 10 minutes before half-time, Rice intercepted a cross pass from the Hearts goalkeeper and slotted into an empty goal.

The second half saw a change of shape from Hearts and a more of an even game, with both teams cancelling each other out with few chances for either.

A momentary lack of concentration saw Tebbett having to deal with a one-on-one situation, spreading herself big to save the effort and pounce on the rebound to keep the score as it was.

After that, Motherwell began to get a hold of the game. And with the game entering the final quarter, a free-kick was awarded after a handball on the edge of the box.

Centre half Watson stepped up and expertly lifted the ball over the wall and into the top corner give the Hearts keeper no chance to stop it.

The visitors held on to keep a clean sheet and most importantly all three points, their first of the season.

Spartans lie in wait next Sunday at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie.

Motherwell: Tebbett, Connor (Reside), C Watson, Crooks (Roberts), Adams, Rice, Baillie, Sinclair (Swanson), Gardner, Callaghan (Skelton), K Watson.

Subs not used: Pollard, Ramsay.

Motherwell travel to Hearts next in SWPL1.

After giving champions Glasgow City a contest last weekend, Eddie Wolecki Black’s side head to the capital in search of their first points of the season.

Kick-off on Sunday 15 November at the Oriam Performance Centre in Edinburgh is at 3.15pm.

The game is closed to supporters.

Tale of the tape

The two sides have faced each other five times on competitive business, with all fixtures coming in SWPL2.

Motherwell have won three of the encounters, drawing one and losing the other.

Form guide

Both sides have started the new SWPL1 season with three defeats, albeit it’s Hearts who sit bottom of the table on goal difference.

A 5-1 opening day defeat at Rangers was followed by a 10-0 home loss to Celtic, and then a 3-0 loss at Forfar Farmington on Sunday.

‘Well also lost at Forfar on the first day, suffering a 4-2 defeat. That was then followed by home reversals at the hands of Hibernian and Glasgow City.

Manager seeing progress

“We showed last weekend against Glasgow City that we are very capable,” manager Eddie Wolecki Black said.

“The average age of our team in that game was around 19 years old, so it’s even more of a credit that such a young group are acquitting themselves so well.

“This is an opportunity now against Hearts to try get our first points on the board. We’ll be ready for it.”

Motherwell gave perennial champions Glasgow City a close contest, before eventually losing 3-0 in SWPL1.

Eddie Wolecki Black’s side had the Champions League participants locked at 0-0 at the break before the resistance finally broke in the second half.

But the women of steel were more than a match for their opponents and, on another day, may have taken chances which would have put a different complexion on the scoreline.

City had the most of possession in the first 45 and had a good number of chances, coming closest with a header crashing off the bar.

‘Well’s back four though defended well to limiting the number of clear shots on goal, with goalkeeper Ailey Tebbett only having to make a handful of saves.

Lori Gardner came closest for Motherwell in the opening half, with a looping shot from out wide landing on the roof of the net.

City started the brighter of the two teams with several chances early in the second half. That pressure finally resulted in a penalty being given for a handball in the area with 63 minutes played.

The resultant spot kick was slotted into the corner of the net by Leanne Ross at Tebbett’s right-hand side.

The second goal came four minutes later. With Tebbett saving onto the bar and the ball falling at the back post, Jo Love did well to get the touch and take the ball into the net.

City then started to make their greater amount of possession count by adding a third with 18 minutes to go.

A good ball in from the right-hand side found Tyler Toland at the far post, who struck the ball well into the net leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

Motherwell created a couple of chances late on. However, they were unable to capitalise on them.

Champions Glasgow City lie in wait next for Motherwell at home in SWPL1.

The women of steel are looking to pull off a shock at Airdrie’s Penny Cars Stadium on Sunday. Kick off is at 12.30pm.

The game is closed to supporters.

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

Tale of the tape

Motherwell and Glasgow City have faced each other three times, with City winning all three.

Eddie Wolecki Black’s side are looking for their first goal against their dominant opponents.

Form guide

Defeat at home to Hibernian last weekend followed on from a 4-2 loss at Forfar Farmington in the opening fixture of the season for Motherwell.

Glasgow City came through their UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifier with Peamount United on penalties on Wednesday night.

Domestically, they have won 36 of their last 37 league games – with the only defeat coming in an away loss at Celtic in November 2019.

A chance to test ourselves

“Glasgow City are the top side in the country, so it’s a test for us to see how we stack up against them,” said manager Wolecki Black.

“It is important we are not intimidated by them. We will put a game plan in place and try to take something from them.”

Match programme

Motherwell had a tough afternoon as they lost out 6-0 in their first home game of the new SWPL1 season at the hands of Hibernian.

A double from Charlotte Potts, with further strikes from Rachel Boyle, Amy Muir, Colette Cavanagh and Shannon Leishman, consigned the women of steel to defeat in Airdrie.

After a fairly even opening 10 minutes, it was Katie Rice who had the first shot of the game for the hosts.

Trying her luck from outside the box, her shot was wide of the target.

Hibs had the lead within 14 minutes. A powerful half-volley from the edge of the area from Boyle broke down the Motherwell resistance.

Two minutes later, the visitors had their second. Boyle’s corner was met perfectly by the head of Potts to nod home.

Lori Gardner then did well to beat Muir and put a clever ball across the box but there were no takers for Motherwell.

With 23 minutes on the clock, Hibs raced out of sight. A drive into the box by Muir saw her fire low past goalkeeper Pollard and make it 3-0.

Again Motherwell showed flashes in attack as they tried to get a goal back. Good play down the right hand side from Rachael Connor and Abbie Skelton saw Skelton get into the box but she couldn’t get her shot off.

‘Well got into the break with the chance to recuperate and they made a better start to the second half, pressing Hibs higher up the park and forcing them to make errors.

But they would find themselves further behind 11 minutes into the second period, leaving them with a mountain to climb.

Muir’s run in behind down the right led to a cross to Cavanagh, who had the easy task of tapping home the fourth.

Boyle’s cross from a free-kick to Potts’ head made it five, before Leishman made it six in the dying minutes with a low drive into the bottom corner of the net.

Conditions were difficult for both teams at times but Motherwell will be disappointed with aspects of their defending for the goals.

Motherwell’s next game is at home to current league champions Glasgow City on Sunday 8 November.

Motherwell: Pollard, Connor, C Watson, Gallon, Rice, Swanson (Adams), Baillie (Pullar), Sinclair, Gardner, Callaghan, Skelton (K Watson).

Subs not used: Tebbett, Crooks, Reside, Roberts.

Motherwell return to home action in SWPL1 action on Sunday, with the visit of Hibernian.

Having lost the opening fixture at Forfar Farmington, Eddie Wolecki Black’s team are in action at Airdrie’s Penny Cars Stadium. Kick off is at 12.30pm.

The game is closed to supporters.

You can watch a live stream of the match for £5. Click to buy your pass and watch.

Tale of the tape

Hibs have won all six encounters between the two sides, dating back to a first encounter in the Scottish Cup in June 2017.

The last home match for the women of steel resulted in a 2-0 loss back in September last year.

Form guide

A 4-2 loss at Forfar Farmington kicked off the campaign for Motherwell two weekends ago.

Hibernian meanwhile were 2-1 home winners against Spartans.

Manager looking to bounce back

“We didn’t start the season the way we wanted against Forfar,” said manager Eddie Wolecki Black.

“Hibernian are obviously a tough test but we’ve shown in our last few home matches with them that we can cause problems.

“Again, the team will play with no fear. Every game is an opportunity and we’ll be ready for the task in hand.”

Glasgow City going for their 14th successive league title. Celtic and Rangers pouring big investment into the teams. Hearts joining the division. Hibs continuing to look strong.

If the Scottish Women’s Premier League 1 was previously a formidable league for Motherwell, that challenge has only intensified further in the last 12 months or so.

But despite that strength elsewhere, the women of steel also have plenty to offer. One of those things is the lack of fear when taking on the challenges that lie ahead.

With Eddie Wolecki Black at the helm, Motherwell returned to league action with a 4-2 loss at Forfar Farmington on Sunday.

Scottish women’s football’s most successful coach has made it clear to his squad that he wants more success in Lanarkshire.

“He’s very ambitious,” says forward Lori Gardner. “His message to the squad is just not to fear anything. We’ve got nothing to lose, go into every game to win.

“We’re not just there to take part. We want to compete and win in every game. And that’s his message in every training session, about how we can hurt teams in the league.”

Wolecki Black famously led Glasgow City to four successive domestic trebles between 2011 and 2015, and also took them as far the Women’s Champions League quarter-final for the first time in his final season.

He returned to the women’s game in 2017 and was instrumental in securing Motherwell promotion to the top flight and helping them reach the 2018 Women’s Scottish Cup final.

In December last year, he made the move back to Lanarkshire, hoping to improve on last season’s sixth-place finish.

He set to work strengthening the side all over the park with with the likes of goalkeeper Khym Ramsay, defender Lauren Gallon and midfielder Kodie Hay all joining, while he has added more firepower up front in the shape of Lisa Swanson and Nicole Pullar.

“We want to be competitive in every game,” said Gardner. “Last season I think we were just stuck in mid-table, but obviously this season we want to push on from that.

“We’ve got a lot of new players in, we’ve got a good squad. There’s no reason why we can’t compete with the top teams and get further up the league.

“I think it’s good to have a manager who’s got that experience. He’s brought in a lot of good players as well that have been at clubs he’s previously worked with. So there’s a good mix and there’s a good feel about the place.

“Obviously there’s other coaching staff there as well, there’s not just Eddie. There’s Stewart Hall and Willie Kinniburgh and they bring great experience. Stewart has worked in the women’s game for a long time and Willie’s worked in the men’s game. There’s a good balance around the club.

“All the girls get on really well which helps. Everyone is wanting to be part of a team. We’re all helping each other. It’s just a good environment to be around just now.”

In Motherwell’s next two games, they host last season’s top two Hibernian and champions Glasgow City.

The headlines around the SWPL have cantered on Rangers and Celtic going full-time, setting the stage for the most competitive season the league has ever been.

If Motherwell are to compete then the form of tenacious forward Gardner will be pivota. But it’s an expectation the Bellshill-born 23-year-old is happy to take on.

“Obviously I want to score as many goals as possible but I just want to help the team,” said Gardner, who made the move from Hamilton Academical in 2019.

“I’ve been playing up front for the past few seasons but I quite like playing out wide so, getting more assists to my game is something I look forward to trying to do this season.

“The strength of the league is good for the women’s game in Scotland. Rangers and Celtic are now pushing on with Hibs and Glasgow City. So there’s a more competitive edge to the league, especially for the title and Champions League spots.

“It’ll be good to be part of this year. It’s exciting with all the new players coming to the Scottish game.”

For now, games are being played behind closed doors due to the current pandemic, but when the gates do open again Gardner has pinpointed one team-mate fans should look out for.

“Abby Callaghan,” she said. “She’s in and around the Scotland Under 19 squad just now, she’s an exciting young player. I think she’s one to watch.”

By Andrew Southwick