Rossvale secure SWF Championship title and promotion to SWPL
Glasgow side Rossvale have secured the SWF Championship title and promotion to the Scottish Women’s Premier League 2 after beating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3-1 in the Highlands.
A week after their league cup triumph, Rossvale went into the final day of the top half of the Championship with one hand on the double, having amassed an impressive gap in goal difference that left Ayr United with a monumental task of scoring double figures against East Fife and hoping Caley thistle could triumph to give them any chance of catching them.
Buoyed by their extra-time win against Dryburgh last Sunday to lift the Championship and League One Cup, Rossvale started the game at a frenetic pace, with quick feet and passing keeping the young Inverness side on their toes. Sarah McLeod put the Vale ahead on seven minutes after a clever diagonal ball, before a composed brace from the club’s top scorer Megan Whiteford in the first half put any nerves aside. Inverness Caley Thistle competed well to stay in what was a fantastic advert for the third tier, pulling one back through Betty Ross midway through the second half, but the Rossvale victory wasn’t in doubt, and they were presented with the Championship rose bowl by SWF CEO Aileen Campbell following the game.
Elsewhere in the Championship, a double from Clare Docherty gave Ayr United a 2-1 win over East Fife in preparation for her side’s SWPL playoff next month, while Dryburgh moved top of the bottom half of the table with a impressive 4-0 victory over Westdyke. Morton recorded their third win of the season in the Renfrewshire derby with a 4-2 victory over Renfrew Ladies.
Forfar Farmington became the third team to secure promotion to the Championship from SWF’s League One, by beating leaders Stenhousemuir 2-1 at Ochilview and throwing the title race in the fourth tier wide open. Both Farmington and Falkirk are now three points behind Stenny with two games left and Falkirk and Stenhousemuir facing each other next Sunday.
Elsewhere, Bonnyrigg Rose beat Edinburgh Caledonia 3-2 at Meadowbank, Queen of the South ensured they will finish fifth with a 5-1 win over Airdrie Ladies at Palmerston Park and Dundee West picked up their second win of the season 3-1 over Giffnock Soccer Centre.
In the regional SWFL, North champions Inverurie Locos beat Huntly 4-1, Armadale Thistle remain top of East with 9-0 win over East Fife Development and Drumchapel United moved into the top spot in West with a 6-1 win in Alloa.
