Tom Freeman returns with his review of all the action in tiers three to five of the Scottish Women’s football pyramid (5/9/23).
Above: Rossvale celebrate a goal in their win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Kelly Nielsen.
SWF Championship
Rossvale have gone clear at the top of the Scottish Women’s Championship for the first time since it became a national league, with a 4-2 victory at home against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Both sides came into the tie unbeaten from the first two weeks of the new season, and it would be the Highlanders who scored first through new signing Bella Viana.
But a double from Sarah Wardlaw, a goal from Megan Whiteford, and a strike from range by captain Lauren Coleman had the Glasgow side comfortable by halftime. Inverness applied pressure in the second half and despite a goal back from Kirsty Deans will be aggrieved by a missed penalty which may have changed the momentum.
Westdyke dropped their first points to Ayr United who won 6-2 through four goals from last season’s Championship player of the season Clare Docherty, complemented by strikes by Nicol and McBlain. A Kayleigh Traynor double was consolation for the visitors.
Elsewhere, Renfrew Ladies needed a last-minute goal from Nicole Telford to beat Edinburgh City 2-1, East Fife notched their first points of the new season with a 1-0 away victory against Dryburgh Athletic in Dundee, while Morton also got off the mark with a comprehensive 8-0 victory at home to Hutchison Vale.
SWF League One
League One saw a new derby as Forfar Farmington hosted Dundee West at Station Park, running out 5-0 winners to send them joint top of the table in week two, while another local rivalry saw Falkirk beat Stenhousemuir 3-0 in a game which saw both goalkeepers in commanding form. Falkirk manager Craig Tully saw red after an altercation with the referee before Kirsty Gilbert rounded the keeper to tap in, and strikes from distance by Iona Bridges and Kirsty Mcleod secured the points for his side.
Queen of the South suffered their first home defeat in a very long time at the hands of fellow League One newcomers Bonnyrigg Rose. The visitors netted early through Saffron McCabe then weathered the storm from the home side in the second half before scoring deep into added time through an Eilidh Weir counterattack to secure three points on the road.
Airdrie also recorded an impressive away win, beating St. Mirren 3-1 with goals from Megan Murray, Sophie Harrison, and Teri Deegan to join Forfar at the top.
Biffa Regional Leagues
In the regional SWFL, it was goals galore for Inverurie Locos, winning 16-0 against Westdyke Thistle while in the League Cup Kilwinning beat Nithsdale Wanderers 15-0. Orkney Women also won big in the ScottishPower Highlands and Islands league, a 10-1 victory against Nairn St. Ninian in Kirkwall closing the gap to table-topping Buckie Ladies, who recorded a 1-1 draw with Sutherland, to four points.
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