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The trials and tribulations, the illustrious icons and the storied legacy of the Scottish Cup are all memories to last a lifetime. 

The famous competition returns to the forefront of the domestic calendar this weekend, as Motherwell welcome SWF League One side Bonnyrigg Rose to K-Park. The defeated Finalists to Hibernian in 2018, and Semi-Finalists to Rangers in 2023, Motherwell are on the hunt for Scottish Cup glory, with the weekend visit of Bonnyrigg Rose standing in their way of a place in the Quarter-Final stage.

Midfielder Sarah Gibb discusses the importance of Scottish Cup success for the women of steel.

“The Scottish Cup means absolutely everything to the squad,” Gibb explained.

“You never know how many chances you’ll have to lift silverware in your career. There’s always financial disadvantages between the full-time and part-time teams in the SWPL, but cup competitions are one-off matches where you have the opportunity to defy the odds and reach stages where you’re competing for silverware.

“This weekend will be a massive test for us. Bonnyrigg are a lower-league opposition, but in no way are we expecting a simple route to the next round. They will be motivated and determined to cause a cup upset, and we have to ensure that we have prepared in the correct manner to achieve a positive result. ”

Motherwell overcame four-sides before succumbing to a closely-fought two-nil defeat to Rangers in the first-ever domestic women’s match to be held at the National Stadium, Hampden Park back in 2023. Celtic loanee Amy Sharkey and Lucy Barclay were both unused substitutes for the eventual champions, with Laura Berry featuring in the latter stages for Rangers in the proceeding final.

Paul Brownlie’s side sought to replicate the cup success of the previous season, but their ambitious aspirations failed to live up to expectations. A disappointing run the following year saw the women of steel eliminated at the first hurdle, with a 4-2 defeat to close league rivals Partick Thistle.

“The cup exit last year was a sore one,” Gibb noted.

“We battled Thistle close, but ultimately we weren’t at the standards we knew we were capable of. It is something that the entire squad haven’t forgotten, and we are determined to give a better account of ourselves. We are focused on building back from that disappointing defeat last season, and are ready to put it right this weekend.

“We have been performing to a high standard in the league, picking up two back-to-back victories in 2025, and maintaining our position in the top-six of the SWPL table. We’ve been prolific in the final third and defensively sound in our own half, scoring 10-goals and conceding none from our last two-games. These are encouraging signs, but we understand that we need to be consistent in our performances.

“The game against Bonnyrigg could prove to be a difficult afternoon if we don’t start the game on the front foot, but the atmosphere in training has been positive. We’ve had a few players back from injury and a couple new additions in the squad, so we are really coming together as a team.

“The atmosphere within the dressing room has been unbelievable. We have a really close-knit squad, who are there to support you through the good and bad times on the pitch, and we are all heading into the game this weekend full of confidence.”

The K-Park faithful have turned out in their numbers to support the women of steel this season, and Gibb is hopeful that a strong home following could help support their efforts of achieving a place in the next round of the Scottish Cup.

“The supporters have been great so far this season,” Gibb said.

“We’ve had a really strong following at K-Park, and one that is only continuing to grow. We are looking forward to seeing you all in East Kilbride this weekend, and are ready to give a performance deserving of your support.

“We hope to see you all there.”

Motherwell coasted to their second consecutive victory on the North-East coast, defeating Montrose by four-goals at Links Park on Sunday.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie made two changes from the side that defeated Dundee United in the City of Discovery a fortnight ago. Goalscorer Sophie Black’s performance was rewarded with a place in the starting XI, as Amy Sharkey also lined-up alongside Laura Berry.

Louisa Boyes broke the deadlock within the opening phase of play, wrong-footing her opponent with a clever run into the box, before diverting Katie Rice’s whipped delivery past Kirsten Platt in the Montrose goal with a swirling header. After teeing up her teammate for the opener, Rice soon etched her name on the scoresheet, curling a magnificent free-kick into the top-left corner to seal a commanding two-goal cushion at the half-time break.

Laura Berry racked up her 16^th league goal early into the second-half, reacting sharply to volley home the rebound from Bailley Collins’ long-range strike. Collins dipping effort from distance rattled the face of the Montrose crossbar before ricocheting invitingly towards the striker’s feet, and Berry drilled home from close-range with a first-time right-footed volley.

Laura McCartney wrapped up an assured performance on the North-East coast, chasing down what appeared to be a lost cause long-ball. The midfielder caught the Montrose stopper in no-man’s land before dispatching a precise low-finish through the keeper’s outstretched leg. With the final kick of the game, McCartney sustained Motherwell’s advantage over closest-rivals Partick Thistle in the SWPL table.

The women of steel sit five-points clear of the Jags in the final top-six place, with Motherwell turning their attention to the Scottish Cup next weekend, when they welcome Bonnyrigg Rose to K-park.

The women of steel have secured the signature of highly-rated youth prodigy Mason Clark on a permanent deal from Rangers after a successful initial loan spell. 

The 18-year-old traded royal blue for claret of amber in the summer of 2024 after a productive loan move across the River Clyde at local rivals Hamilton last season. Clark featured 22-times in red and white, scoring five-times at New Douglas Park. The youngster was then awarded Accies’ Player & Young Player of the Year.

“I’m delighted to make the move to Motherwell permanent,” Clark said.

“It’s already been an incredible few months at the club. I feel my game has significantly progressed, and the competition for places in the squad has been a challenge that I’m proud to have taken on.

“I’ve been at Rangers since I was very young, but I felt that this was the right moment to make that step into regular senior football, and I felt that there was no better opportunity than to continue with the club.

The midfielder has already featured 14-times for Motherwell, netting once in a 6-1 victory against Queens Park.

“We’re delighted to have Mason remain at the club,” Head Coach Paul Brownlie added.

“She has came to the club with the correct attitude and the mindset to challenge other players for places, and strengthen the squads ambitions of a top-six finish this season.

“Mason has started to really hit her stride, and we are looking forward to continuing her progression this season.

Signing from Dundee United in the summer of 2023, defender Eve Donald added a wealth of Premier League experience to the Motherwell backline after defying the odds to protect her predecessors top-flight safety in the previous domestic season. 

Despite maintaining an impressive CV throughout her time in the City of Discovery, Donald sought to continue her development at the women of steel whilst then still being at the youthful age of 23. However, a recurring injury rapidly disrupted her progression on the pitch, as Donald featured on only nine-occasions before a serious and unforeseen knee injury ruled the defender out of action for over nine-months.

Donald has continued to quietly work behind the scenes, whilst progressively building up to a return to action,

“It’s been the most frustrating part of my footballing journey,” Donald explained.

“There were small recurring injuries that stalled the start of my time at the club, but I’d started to overcome them and earn a more consistent run in the team. Then, in a single unpredictable moment, I turned sharply on the ball, and it resulted in one of the most challenging injuries a player could ever encounter.

“It became apparent on the pitch that I’d sustained an ACL rupture, which we then confirmed after an MRI scan. This specific injury has been increasingly prominent in the women’s game, and it’s always a concern that you try to keep in the back of your mind, but that day it ultimately became a reality for me.”

A physically and mentally demanding challenge for the now 24-year-old, with Donald acknowledging that the severity of the injury and the expected duration on the sidelines was tough to comprehend.

“It’s been a slow arduous time away from the pitch,” Donald noted.

“I was aware of the time scales attached to ACL injuries. Having witnessed many teammates go through it in the past, I knew how long the process would be.

“I wasn’t able to immediately receive the surgery that I needed, so my recovery time only stagnated as the days and weeks went by. Thankfully, since being able to get the operation, the recovery time has been slightly shorter than what was originally anticipated, which has allowed me to get back training.

“You don’t fully appreciate it until you’re on the sidelines, but having the opportunity to be around your teammates and train is a perfect motivator to continue working behind the scenes and regain my place in the matchday squad.

“I’ve been working tirelessly to get back as soon as possible, and for myself, gradually building up my sharpness and gaining momentum will be the best approach going forward. Once I’m mentally and physically ready to play, I will do my upmost to support the squad whenever I’m called upon.”

With teammates Laura McCartney and Lucy Ronald both recently returning from severe long-term injuries, that collectively amounted to over three seasons on the sidelines, Donald expressed the importance of having those with related experiences to aid the recovery process.

“There’s obviously a lot of concerns and fears of the unknown and the extent of the recovery process,” Donald said.

“Until you’ve been in that position, it’s difficult to understand exactly what the process involves and how to prepare myself for the surgery as well.

“The support from the rest of the squad was pivotal, especially from the players who have been in the same situation, so the reassurance and guidance really helped to alleviate those initial fears and concerns around when I’d get back onto the pitch.

“There is a really good core group of players at the club, and everyone in the dressing room looks out for each other. They’ve been essential throughout this year, and I can’t wait to be back sharing the pitch with them.”

The women of steel return to action this weekend for the first-time in under a fortnight, as they travel to face Montrose at Links Park on Sunday. 

Motherwell haven’t faced a competitive matchday since defeating Dundee United by six-goals to one at Foundation Park in the first SWPL matchday of 2025. Head Coach, Paul Brownlie’s side will travel up the A9 to the North-East coast, facing the Gable Endies for the first-time since a narrow 3-2 victory at K-Park last August. Former striker Morgan Cross broke the deadlock, before summer addition Rachel Todd and Bailley Collins both added to the scoresheet in East Kilbride.

The visitors will be keen to continue their unbeaten run against Sunday’s hosts, with the women of steel unbeaten in their last-four against Montrose, earning two-wins and two-draws. Motherwell will be motivated to secure their first victory at Links Park, after picking up two-points from four in their previous trips to the North-East.

The Tale of the Tape 

Motherwell 

Motherwell started 2025 on the right note, defeating relegation-survival hopefuls Dundee United with an assured display in the City of Discovery. Motherwell face a closely-fought race to the finish line to achieve a top-six place this season, with the women of steel five points clear of nearest league rivals Partick Thistle, who have a additional game in-hand. Motherwell will face Montrose, Spartans, Aberdeen and Glasgow City in their remaining four SWPL fixtures, with victory this weekend putting Motherwell’s ambitions within touching distance.

Montrose 

The Gable Endies sit precariously above the relegation places, level on points with Aberdeen in 10th, but ahead of the Dons on goal difference. The hosts have picked up one-win from their last 11, defeating relegation rivals Queens Park by a single goal before the winter break.

Ticket information 

Supporters can purchase their ticket in advance through the Montrose ticketing website or on the day, with pay at the gate available.

Adult – TBC

Concession – TBC

Under-11 – TBC

The women of steel toasted their first matchday of 2025 in style, coasting to an assured victory in the City of Discovery, hitting hosts Dundee United for six at Foundation Park. 

Head Coach Paul brownlie named two changes from the side that held high-flying Hearts to a goalless stalemate in the final matchday of 2024 at K-Park.

Defender Chelsie Watson returned to the Motherwell backline, replacing the injured Jo Addie, with Sarah Gibb featuring in midfield in place of Laura McCartney. Midfielder Georgie Robb also returned to the matchday squad after an extensive injury spell left the youngster on the sidelines since joining the club from predecessors Dundee United.

Motherwell almost immediately imposed their attacking strengths onto the fragmented 13-player United squad, with striker Laura Berry firmly picking up from where she left off in the previous calendar year. The forward drove dangerously across the right-flank before slicing through the 18-yard-box and accurately dispatching a low-finosh underneath the on-rushing United goalkeeper.

Berry secured her brace after 14-minutes, dispatching a strike from the penalty spot after Louisa Boyes’ was brought down narrowly within the 18-yard-box.

Chelsie Watson made it three less than a minute later, prodding home Katie Rice’s whipped free-kick before repeating the feat shortly before the half-time break to ensure the women of steel headed into half-time with a comfortable four-goal cushion.

In almost inexplicable circumstances, United pulled one back with their only shot of the game, catching Emily Mutch out with a 50-yard strike directly from kick-off, baffling the Motherwell squad.

Berry completed her hat-trick on the hour mark, latching onto Jenna Penman’s pinpoint through ball before racing through and placing her curled finish beyond the reach of the United goalkeeper. Second-half substitute rounded off proceedings in the latter stages of the game, converting Mason Clark’s drilled delivery across the face of goal.

The women of steel will face a one-week break before returning to league action against Montrose in a fortnight’s time.

The last-minute equalisers, refereeing controversies and memorable goals are the key thought-provoking moments of discussion that engages football supporters across the country, and the mid-season break will enable plenty of time for Head Coach Paul Brownlie to reflect on the 2024/25 SWPL campaign so far. 

The women of steel remain firmly in the ascendency, as they chase their long-awaited and evaded ambition of a top-six finish in the Scottish Women’s Premier League table. Motherwell have maintained an advantage over their closest rivals Partick Thistle for much of the 2024/25 SWPL campaign, after a 1-1 stalemate in the last meeting between the sides at Petershill Park in November.

Motherwell have encountered four defeats in the SWPL since September, all coming against title-chasers Rangers, Celtic and Glasgow City. However, in two of their last three fixtures against the full-time top-three sides, Paul Brownlie’s teams were only defeated by a single-goal deficit. In their other five fixtures throughout that time, the women of steel have won four and drew once.

“I’m really pleased with how we’ve performed over the past few months,” Brownlie noted.

“We have really progressed past the initial introduction phase for all our summer additions, and have found a system that the players have really settled into and competed well in. I’m delighted with how we’ve approached and tested the full-time teams, we haven’t sat back and defended in our own penalty box, we’ve taken the game to them all and were deserving of achieving points.

“As with any season, there will always be areas and aspects of our style of play that could be adapted or utilised more effectively, but we are constantly learning and improving ourselves collectively as a squad. Ultimately, we set out a clear objective at the start of the season to finish in the top-six in the SWPL table, and at the halfway stage, we are currently in the position where we want to be which is very pleasing, but the job isn’t close to being completed yet.”

Alongside the closely-fought league campaign, Paul Brownlie’s side confidently secured their place in Round Four of the Scottish Cup, defeating SWPL2 side Rossvale with an assured seven-goal victory. There were seven different goalscorers on display, as Sophie Black, Bailley Collins, Louisa Boyes, Jenna Penman, Lucy Barclay, Sienna McGoldrick and Mason Clark all added their names to the scoresheet. The women of steel were drawn with another SWPL2 club in the round of sixteen, as Bonnyrigg Rose will head to South Lanarkshire to face the hosts at K-Park in the opening fixtures of 2025.

Motherwell will be keen to surpass their Sky Sports league Cup campaign, where they achieved a place in the Quarter-Final stage after defeating local rivals Hamilton following an enthralling penalty shootout, but were eventually defeated by defending champions Rangers.

“The cup campaigns are the perfect opportunity for the team to succeed,” Brownlie emphasised.

“Cup matches are one-off opportunities for the team to progress to the next round, where they can play without the pressurised environment of a league campaign. We achieved real success in 2023, securing a place in the Semi-Final and contested the first domestic women’s match to be played at the National Stadium, Hampden Park. These are experiences that can last a lifetime for the players and can pave the way for the next generation of players coming through, so these opportunities are ones that we really want to capitalise on.

“Bonnyrigg will be another tough task. While the result against Rossvale might look incredibly one-sided, we were really under pressure in the opening stages of the game, and until the second-half; we hadn’t found our standards and hit the correct gear. Bonnyrigg are in the round of sixteen for a reason, they have rightfully earned their place and will be looking to create history by reaching the Quarter-Final stage, but we are confident of the ability within the squad and will be looking to progress to the next round.

The women of steel’s convincing rub of form will have intrigued and enticed the supporters to travel to K-Park in their numbers, with attendances steadily progressing season by season, and the coaching staff are keen to reward their efforts.

“We have been really pleased with the support for the squad this season,” Brownlie explained.

“The women’s game and the popularity of supporting women’s football is continuing to rapidly grow, and we are looking to reward the support from the stands with our performances on the pitch.

“The squad have their sights set on progressing in the cup competitions and finishing the SWPL season inside the top-six, but we aren’t going to get ahead of ourselves. We are pleased with where we are at the halfway stage, but we know that there will still be a considerable amount of work to do when we return in the new year.

“We hope everyone has a happy new year, and we will see you in 2025.”

The dawn of a new year will be found at Foundation Park, as the women of steel prepare for their first SWPL fixture since December when they face Dundee United in the City of Discovery this weekend.

Motherwell have been without competitive action since holding high-flying Hearts to a goalless stalemate at K-Park over three weeks ago.

Paul Brownlie’s side headed into the festive break two-points clear of closest-league rivals Partick Thistle, with only five remaining SWPL fixtures remaining until the post-split in March.

The Tale of the Tape 

Motherwell 

The women of steel have earned five straight victories over Dundee United, netting on 15-occasions and conceding only once. Motherwell cruised to an assured four-one victory in the first meeting between in sides in October.

A double from Rangers loanee Laura Berry, with a strike from Louisa Boyes and a Megan Burns own-goal sealed three-points for Paul Brownlie’s side in East Kilbride. Boyes also found the target in the last visit to Dundee, in a narrow one-nil victory.

Motherwell will seek to strengthen their foothold in the top-six of the SWPL table after only picking up one-point in their previous three matches.

Dundee United

The Tangerines remain at the foot of the SWPL table, three-points adrift of fellow relegation rivals Queens Park after picking up a valuable result over the Spiders, defeating the Glasgow-side to record their first domestic victory since April.

Ticket information

Supporters can purchase tickets on matchday, with the clubs turnstile in operation.

• Adult – TBC.
• Concession – TBC.
• Under 11s – TBC.

How to follow the action 

Supporters can follow Sunday’s encounter on X formerly Twitter @motherwellwomen, with a full report of the action available post-match. Kick-off from Foundation Park at 2PM.

Motherwell concluded their final domestic fixture of 2024, holding high-flying Hearts to a goalless stalemate at K-Park on Sunday.

It proved not to be a contest for the footballing purist, as both sides evenly matched each other in a defensively resolute performance that conceded very few opportunistic chances on goal.

Head Coach Paul Brownlie named two changes from the side that were defeated in the Scottish capital by Hibernian last weekend. Defender Rachel Todd and and midfielder Lucy Ronald both returned to the starting XI, with Ronald making her first competitive start since an injury setback against Spartans last season ruled the 22-year-old out of action for over a year. Chelsie Watson and Sienna McGoldrick both settled for a place amongst the substitutes.

Few chances of note troubled both Emily Mutch and Rachael Johnstone across either half, with Bailley Collins coming closest after curling a hopeful left-footed effort across the face of goal, but the versatile defenders attempt fell narrowly beyond the far post.

Collins again came close to breaking the deadlock in the second-half after looking to capitalise on Johnstone’s high starting position, clipping an audacious finish from distance, but the shot strayed wide of the target. Katie Rice’s bending free-kick from the edge of the Hearts’ penalty area had Johnstone scrambling in the Hearts goal, but the experienced defender couldn’t find the top-left corner.

Motherwell head into the winter break two-points clear of closest-rivals Partick Thistle in the SWPL table, with the women of steel set to return to action in January.

Flair, versatility and a keen eye on goal are simply few of the traits within the repertoire of talents that the K-park faithful have become accustomed to whilst watching Laura Berry leading the line. 

The striker burst into the Scottish Women’s Premier League, netting 8-goals in 12-appearances after joining the club on an initial season-long loan deal from Glasgow-outfit Rangers. A Champions League debut for the Gers followed, facing European titans Atletico de Madrid and Arsenal, but the youngster sought to continue her development elsewhere – returning to the club for her second consecutive loan deal.

Berry has quickly rediscovered her form this campaign, scoring seven-goals in eight-appearances, including four against newly-promoted SWPL2 champions Queens Park in only her second game. The international ranks haven’t fazed the forward, with Berry completing a first-half hat-trick against the Netherlands before scoring a double against Hungary the following week.

“I’ve loved my time at the club,” Berry noted.

“I really wanted to continue the progression of my own game, and my first stint at the club last season allowed me to make significant strides on the pitch. The coaching staff at the club work tirelessly to ensure progression on the pitch collectively as a squad, but they also are focused on developing yourself individually as a player.

“The squad are incredibly supportive, and have created a really positive environment fir young players to thrive. We have a really perfect balance of experienced and young players in the squad that has been fundamental to our performances on the pitch this season. I’ve been able to take what I’ve learned at the club to the Scotland youth squads and develop my standards on the international stage.”

Her impression on the Scottish footballing scene hasn’t gone unnoticed, with the 17-year-old forward receiving the Scottish Women’s Football Young Player of the Year award. The striker was nominated alongside Rossvale’s Sophie Ambrosini, Hearts’ Jessica Husband and Ross County’s Keira Syrjanen, but after initially being shortlisted by a supporters vote, Berry was awarded the ‘Young player of the year’ by a selected judging panel.

“It has been a dream come true,” Berry emphasised.

“It was an absolute honour and a privilege to be nominated in my first season of professional football, especially alongside so many talented players. Being recognised as the Young Player of the Year is a really proud milestone for myself and something that I haven’t taken for granted.

“It has been a whirlwind experience. I still feel relatively new to the league and fairly inexperienced at this level, but having my first full season under my belt and trying to replicate those performances this season as an established first-team player has been important to my development.

“Ultimately, my main focus is to support the team to success on the pitch, but individually as a player, I’m always looking to improve and add to my game, so to receive the recognition from the SWF is a real motivator for me to continue with the hard work both on and off the pitch.”

The women of steel remain firmly in the ascendency, as they chase their long-awaited and evaded ambition of a top-six finish in the Scottish Women’s Premier League table. Motherwell have maintained an advantage over their closest rivals Partick Thistle for much of the 2024/25 SWPL campaign, after a 1-1 stalemate in the last meeting between the sides.

Paul Brownlie’s side confidently secured their place in Round Four of the Scottish Cup, defeating SWPL2 side Rossvale with an assured seven-goal victory before closely-battling league leaders Rangers at a sub-zero K-Park. Despite not finding the target, Berry showcased her creativity, teeing up her teammates on three-occasions.

“The SWPL is a difficult league,” Berry explained.

“Part-time squads are facing opposition who are well-rested, training full-time, and solely focused on football. The challenges can be unpredictable, but as a squad, we’ve approached each game in a professional manner – training regularly with great attention to detail and always with an ambition to compete at the top-end of the table. We’ve proven how efficient and competitive we can be – losing by one-goal margins against both Rangers and Glasgow City demonstrated our standards, as we were capable and deserving of taking points in both of these matches.

“We’ve made it no secret that a top-six finish is our ambition this season, but we don’t focus too much on the league table. It can often sound like a cliche in football, but we are simply taking each game at a time, and the league table will take care of itself.”