This weekend has seen a series of big games in Scotland with clubs battling to retain their league status or gain promotion. Our team of writers have all the details (5/6/23).
Above: Forfar Farmington celebrate their playoff win over Bonnyrigg Rose to seal promotion to the SWF League One. Photo: Sportpix.
SWPL 1 Play-Off Final
by Ben Gilby
Hamilton Academical retained their top-flight status after coming from behind to defeat Gartcairn at Broadwood Stadium yesterday afternoon.
The Accies came from behind to win the tie with 15 minutes remaining after SWPL2 side Gartcairn had taken the lead thanks to Georgina McTear with 15 minutes played. It remained that way at the break.
Chloe Muir levelled with 65 minutes played as she headed home MT Gardiner’s cross. Then, 10 minutes later came the winner as Eilidh Martin poked home from close range. It was a fitting way for Hamilton Academical to send off their head coach Gary Doctor.
SWPL 2 Play-Off Final
by Ben Gilby
Stirling University retained their SWPL 2 status thanks to a 1-0 win over SWFL Championship runners-up Rossvale.
Stirling University took the win thanks to a goal from a corner with half-hour played. Rossvale came agonisingly close to levelling on several occasions, with Impetus-sponsored Lauren Coleman seeing a header saved. Kaitlyn Canavan saw a shot come back off the bar and an earlier effort smothered by brave goalkeeping from close range.
Biffa SWFL Play-Offs
from Tom Freeman
Forfar Farmington and Queen of the South have secured promotion to the national Scottish Women’s League One after winning their respective play-offs against Bonnyrigg Rose and Harmony Row.
Over 600 spectators attended the ties in Dumfries and Forfar, demonstrating growing interest in the new pyramid structure in the Scottish Women’s game.
A Georgina Wilson double helped Biffa SWFL South winners Queen of the South to their first promotion with a 2-0 win against a robust Harmony Row side who looked dangerous on the break.
Biffa SWFL North winners Forfar Farmington return to competitive national football for the first time since the club was forced to withdraw from the Premier League in 2021. A hat-trick by Cheryl Kilcoyne spurred the Angus side into a thrilling 5-3 victory over Bonnyrigg Rose, who had clinched second spot in the Biffa SWFL East and a play-off place because league winners Livingston Reserves do not qualify for promotion as a development side of a club already in the performance leagues.
The young Bonnyrigg side were 4-1 down at halftime but fought their way back into the game with goals from Saffron McCabe and Sophie Douglas, but unable to catch Forfar in the end.
They now face Harmony Row for the third and final place in League One this Sunday in Airdrie.
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