Close competitive action: SWF leagues prove to be tight contests ahead of week two
The new-look SWF Championship and League one have already proved themselves to be close-fought contests ahead of the second week of fixtures.
A nine-goal thriller in the Highlands revealed how close the Championship will be this season, Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s Natalie Bodiam scoring a last-minute winner to send hard-working Rossvale back to Glasgow with no points to show for their four goals.
Manager Karen Mason told club media afterwards that the game had been “a whirlwind”, urging her side to “cut out the mistakes” ahead of this weekend’s trip to Edinburgh to face Hutchison Vale.
Rossvale will welcome Greenock Morton to Glasgow on Sunday, the visitors having put four past Ayr United on the opening day.
Morton Manager Colin McEachnie said: “We’ve got to be up there at the end of the season. It’s going to be tough, no doubt about it. We’ve got another seven decent teams who are probably having the same conversation I am.. but I’ll be disappointed if we’re not in the mix towards the end of the season given the quality we’ve got in.”
Both defences were on top in a scoreless draw between Dryburgh Athletic and Livingston last week in Dundee. Dryburgh travel to Cumnock to face Ayr United on Sunday while Livingston will welcome Renfrew Ladies to the Tony Macaroni, a side who put three past Hutchison Vale on the opening day.
In League One, all 12 teams got on the scoresheet on the opening weekend, with every home side scoring two goals.
In the case of the Edinburgh derby at the new Meadowbank, this meant a 2-2 draw.
This weekend FC Edinburgh welcome BSC Glasgow to Hibernian’s training centre, as both Hibs and Boroughmuir Thistle are at home at Meadowbank in the SWPL. Meanwhile Edinburgh Caledonia travel to the Falkirk stadium to face a Falkirk side who put four past Dundee West last weekend and looked lively on the counter.
Meanwhile, Dundee West will try to make amends at Ochilview against Stenhousemuir.
Westdyke, who beat BSC Glasgow 4-2 on day one, welcome St Mirren to the Northeast. The buddies had shown plenty of second half grit to win against Grampian Ladies on the opening day, who in turn host Airdrie Ladies at the Bank of Dee sports club on Sunday.
Newly promoted from the Biffa SWFL regional leagues, Giffnock SC made a valiant attempt against Stenny on the opening day, but an incredible Cunningham free-kick was not enough to complete the fightback. This Sunday they travel to Renfrew to face a Gleniffer Thistle side who are also looking for their first points.
