Ayr United secure SWPL2 playoff spot and cut SWF Championship title gap to three points
Ayr United beat Rossvale 2-1 to secure at least the playoff spot and cut the gap at the top to three points, albeit with a +22 goal difference advantage for the Glasgow side.
After a nervy and goalless first half, Ayr forward Paige Henry missed a penalty early in the second, the ball crashing off the crossbar to allow Rossvale ‘keeper Rhind to gather. Lauren McBlain had United in front before Henry made amends with her side’s second in the 80th minute.
Rossvale pulled one back in final moments but were made to wait for a title party for the second week in a row.
Rossvale play Dryburgh Athletic next week in the Championship and League One Cup final before travelling to Inverness Caledonian Thistle for the final game of the Championship season. Only a heavy loss and a huge win for Ayr United against East Fife will prevent them being crowned champions on the final day.
Securely in third place, East Fife welcomed Inverness Caledonian Thistle to Bayview today and pipped the Highlanders to a 2-1 victory, while Dryburgh Athletic beat Hutchison Vale in the bottom half of the table.
Both Falkirk and Stenhousemuir are guaranteed at least promotion to the Championship, after the former moved clear of Forfar Farmington in second in League One, beating the Angus side 4-0 at Station Park, while leaders Stenny won a close game against Bonnyrigg Rose 3-2.
Bonnyrigg must now win all three of their remaining games if they are to have any chance of catching Farmington for the third promotion slot, while Forfar will be looking to beat Stenny in a fortnight’s time to keep their own title ambitions alive.
Elsewhere, Queen of the South held off a Giffnock comeback to win 3-2.
Inverurie Locos Works have won the SWFL North regional league after a comprehensive 7-1 victory against Elgin City. The Aberdeenshire side cannot be caught at the top of the table, despite second-placed Dyce winning 2-1 against Arbroath and having a game in hand. Locos will now be offered national league football through promotion to SWF League One.
