Celtic sent Rangers to a 3-0 defeat on match day one of the 2018 Scottish Building Society SWPL season, while reigning champions Glasgow City hit Stirling University for six.
Sunday 11th February
SBS SWPL 1
Celtic 3-0 Rangers
Glasgow City 6-0 Stirling University
Hamilton Academical 0-1 Forfar Farmington
Hibernian 3-0 Spartans
SBS SWPL 2
Edinburgh University Hutchison Vale 1-1 Hearts
Glasgow Girls 1-4 Aberdeen
Kilmarnock 1-2 Motherwell
St Johnstone 1-3 Central Girls
Pullar marks Celtic debut with double
Nicole Pullar bagged a brace on her debut for Celtic and Ruesha Littlejohn was also on target in a 3-0 win over rivals Rangers.
Sarah Ewens hit the post for Celtic before they took the lead via a 27th-minute corner, which Pullar prodded in.
Brogan Hay was denied an equaliser by keeper Megan Cunningham but 4 minutes after the break Pullar doubled her tally, then Ewens played in Littlejohn to curl in the third.
Rangers finished with ten players after Jade Gallon was cautioned a second time.
City continue where they left off
Glasgow City’s campaign was only 14 minutes old and they were two goals to the good against Stirling University; Abbi Grant netting a ball from Kirsty Howat and Jo Love turning home Grant’s cut-back.
Grant was involved again as Hayley Lauder made it 3-0 before the break but Stirling then held out until the final 5 minutes before conceding three more.
Full-back Nicola Docherty ran into the box to fire home, Megan Foley headed in at the back post and in stoppage time Joanne Paton struck from 25 yards.
Happy last half-hour for Hibs
Three goals in a 13-minute spell after the hour mark saw Hibernian beat Spartans 3-0.
Siobhan Hunter had a header cleared off the visitors line on 57 minutes but soon after Rachel McLauchlan’s cross was volleyed in at the back post by Katey Turner.
The lead was doubled after both Lia Tweedie and Turner had efforts blocked, the latter eventually netting her second.
Tweedie rounded off the scoring on 73 minutes with an effort over the keeper from Cailin Michie’s deep cross.
Winning return for Forfar
Forfar Farmington began life back in the top flight by getting the only goal at Hamilton Academical FC’s Superseal Stadium.
Julia Scott’s cross was tucked home by Robyn Smith 8 minutes into the second period.
Dons victorious after the drop
Aberdeen were relegated last year but began well with a 4-1 victory at 2017 runners-up Glasgow Girls to become early SWPL 2 leaders, as their hosts had one player sent off and another taken to hospital for an x-ray.
Kirsty MacDonald did put Glasgow ahead but Johan Fraser levelled by half-time and Kirstin McGuire was shown a second yellow card on 69 minutes, with her head coach George Paterson also dismissed.
Debutant Lynne Duncan then saw the Dons in front, with goals by Chloe Fitzpatrick and Beth McPherson making sure of the points.
Successful start for Central
Central Girls Football Academy made their SWPL 2 debut in style, by winning 3-1 at St Johnstone (formerly Jeanfield Swifts).
All their goals came in a 15-minute spell leading up to half-time, including a brace by Kim McAlpine.
Rachel Wolecki pulled a goal back for the home side, midway through the second half.
Motherwell take indirect route to goal
Kilmarnock – like Central Girls – were promoted from the Scottish League but went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Motherwell at Rugby Park.
An Emma Black free kick was headed into her own net by an unfortunate Killie defender, under pressure from Sammy Hare.
Sara Paterson equalised with a free kick 18 minutes from time but a late Hayley Cunningham set-piece was deflected into the home net to restore Motherwell’s advantage.
Edinburgh derby drawn
It finish all square in Edinburgh, as Hutchison Vale drew 1-1 with Hearts.
Sophie Boeckh had a goal ruled out for Hutchie and soon after Hearts were in front, tucking away a 25th-minute spot-kick.
Vale earned a point with an equaliser just after the hour mark, Nic Sturrock finding Anna Hume who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
