It all Comes Down to This

With the title set to go to the final day, again... and relegation still to be determined we are recapping Wednesday's midweek goal fest and looking ahead to Sunday's big day.

Here we go for a final time this season, all eyes on the SWPL after a midweek of goals, goals, goals, and a weekend to come of tense, nail-biting, anxiety-inducing drama for fans of five teams.

What Happened Last Night?

Hibernian 4-2 Celtic

We were at Meadowbank for a game that could have sealed Hibernian’s spot in Europe, or even the title, if Hearts and Motherwell had done them a favour. As the Hibernian faithful ran through their song book ranging from “heaven is at Meadowbank” to the tune of 1987 hit Heaven is a Place on Earth to “do you believe in Kathleen McGov” to Cher’s Do You Believe in Life After Love the mood was jubilant despite the tension of what was at stake.

A must-win game, but any nerves the squad were feeling didn’t show as they turned on the style to fire themselves into an early 3-0 lead. Ciara Grant starting things off with some of her usual set piece magic, this time curling one into the near post from an impossible angle to beat Lisa Rodgers in goal for Celtic. McGovern then flicked one over a defender before firing in from 18-yards, tapping in a second shortly after following some good work from Caley Gibb.

A second half Eilidh Adams goal either side of Noonan and Bruna scoring for Celtic and Hibernian remained top, all eyes turned to Oriam and K-Park with pressure on Rangers and Glasgow City to keep up.

Hearts 3-5 Rangers

A weird day where Hibs fans were cheering Hearts goals, and Rangers fans were cheering Celtic goals, clearly upset the balance of the universe leading to goals flying in across Edinburgh.

Katie Wilkinson took her goal tally to an incredible 39 for the season (although only four of those have been against top five opposition) with her first silencing the Meadowbank crowd as they switched on at half time. Good work from Mia McAulay to break free and find her teammate in white and, despite a Bayley Hutchison equaliser less than a minute later, they were on course to run rampant. Five first half goals and it was job done.

Hearts threatened a comeback in the second half but this isn’t a Tom Cruise action blockbuster, so the impossible mission was never really on as they sunk to defeat. Failing to take advantage of Celtic’s loss which could have seen the Jambos jump into fourth.

Motherwell 1-2 Glasgow City

In the late kick off Bailley Collins made history, and had Hibernian and Rangers fans celebrating on their journeys home, as she scored Motherwell’s first top six goal. We are reliably informed that it was a long range effort from the Motherwell #7, and as there is currently no footage we are choosing to believe it was a goal of the season contender (if the award hadn’t already been done…).

A Kozlova inspired fightback saw City’s mentality shine. An equaliser five minutes later, followed by what they thought would be the winner only to see the offside flag raised, and finally a penalty. The weight of a full season of effort on Brenna Lovera’s shoulders, miss and the season would be over, but you know the score so we should probably stop building tension. Her strike found the net and now we have a three-way final day (technically, more on that later).

Partick Thistle 2-0 Queen’s Park

A professional performance from Partick Thistle, who will lament even being in the relegation battle this late, saw them secure their spot in the top flight for another season. Queen’s Park down to ten for most of the game, and Thistle made it count as Carla Boyce tapped home after being set up by Burchill before doubling her tally with a penalty.

The game itself perhaps playing second fiddle to the careers of Queen’s Park goalkeeper Lauren McGregor and Partick Thistle full back Clare Docherty as both made their final appearances in SWPL 1. An emotional day as two icons of the SWPL say their farewells, two more of the class that much of the change and professionalising of the game can be attributed to as they not only handed out great entertainment on the pitch but demanded more off of it.

What Does it All Mean?

The Title (& UWCL) Race

This is where our technicality comes in, Glasgow City can still win the league. However, they would need Rangers to beat Hibernian at Ibrox and to outscore them by 27 goals. Hearts defence may not have covered themselves in glory midweek, but a 28-0 scoreline is probably outside the realms of possibility.

That means we have a shootout at Ibrox. If Hibernian win or draw the title is theirs, Rangers must win. To add to that drama, both Rangers and Hibernian will likely need to win to secure European football next season as both have to better Glasgow City’s result against Hearts.

Hibernian are yet to lose to Rangers this season in the league, but the horrors of the SWPL Cup final at Fir Park will linger. That 5-0 loss the last time these sides met on a grass surface, and the last big occasion for a Hibernian side that have lost much of their trophy winning experience over the last few years.

The home side are on a run of three wins in a row, scoring 12 in the process, and will be looking to avenge the last title deciding Ibrox match that saw Glasgow City lift the trophy at their gaff two seasons ago, as they finished third. Hibernian haven’t lost since the Edinburgh Derby, a run of six consecutive games, and have every right to feel optimistic going into it.

The Drop

Spartans and Montrose now both know what they need to do on Sunday. Win. Spartans goal difference should be enough to see them over the line with a draw, but they won’t want to rely on that as they face the tougher opposition of the two with Partick Thistle coming to the capital.

Their last win against the Jags was all the way back in September 2023 when a Hannah Jordan goal upset the Petershill Park crowd, they have lost five of the six fixtures since with a solitary draw the only cause for celebration. Spartans faithful, we can understand if you are starting to feel nervous but there is some good news. The SWPL stalwarts are unbeaten at home post-Split and have a good record across the season with the Ainslie Park crowd behind them - winning 40% of their home games.

Montrose will be hosting Dundee United in an Angus derby while this is going on, the already relegated side perhaps getting themselves up for one last hurrah in the top flight ahead of a rebuild this summer as they look to return at the first time of asking. What better way than to beat your local rivals and relegate them with you?

Unfortunately for United, and Spartans, across seven meetings in SWPL 1 Montrose have a 100% winning record. They have also picked up 20 points post-Split, an achievement only matched by Hibernian at the top of the table. A truly inspired fightback against relegation, if they do it it will be special.