SWF Cup set for group stage conclusion
The league cup for the fifth tier of the Scottish women’s football pyramid has reached the final games of the group stage, with a lot still to play for.
The group winners and five best second-placed teams will enter the last 16, with the other teams entering the SWFL Plate competition. When calculating second, results against the bottom-placed team in groups of four will be discounted so groups of three have not been disadvantaged.
This means with nine ties to be played on Sunday, many teams are still to find out whether they have qualified for the last 16 of the cup, whether they have a game or not, and there could be eyes on the goal difference tallies as the results come in.
So far, Edinburgh South are guaranteed GROUP A winners and are through. Any of the other three teams could finish second but will need to score big to have a chance of qualifying.
In GROUP B, Armadale Thistle are guaranteed winners, while Linlithgow Rose and Edinburgh University Thistle are already in the Plate. Dunfermline’s six points and +4 goal difference against Edinburgh University Thistle will be removed when comparing second-placed sides, so the Fife side will need to get something against Armadale on Sunday to be in with a chance.
In GROUP C, Current leaders Glenrothes Strollers need a least a point against local rivals East Fife Development to top the group and qualify, while Musselburgh Windsor will be cheering them on to secure second then look at results elsewhere. A win for East Fife Dev would put them top and see their opponents probably qualify in second. Falkirk Dev are in the Plate.
Clydebank can top GROUP D with a win against West Park ahead of Harmony Row, or they could qualify as one of the best-placed second placed teams as a loss wouldn’t count in the comparison. West Park Utd and Alloa Athletic are guaranteed Plate football.
Dumbarton Utd will need a big win against Rossvale Development in GROUP E to win the group, but four points would give them a slim chance to qualify in second, depending on goal difference. Bishopton are in the Plate.
GROUP F is complete, with Drumchapel Utd already into the last 16 and Dunipace and Cumbernauld Colts in the Plate. Gleniffer Thistle will lose 4 points and +5 goal difference against Cumbernauld Colts in the second-places comparison, but six points gives them a good chance to qualify.
GROUP G is also complete. Unbeaten Inverurie Locos were among the first to qualify for the last 16. Elgin City in second are set to lose six points against Buchan so will not make the cut with three. Grampian and Buchan are also in the Plate.
GROUP H leaders Huntly are through, and Stonehaven on six points are well-placed in second. Dryburgh Dev are in the Plate.
Dyce are all but guaranteed to be GROUP I winners, with Westdyke Thistle needing a big victory to give Arbroath a hand. That said, the Lichties are very well-placed on seven points in second, and look likely to have a place in the last 16.
GROUP J are all to play on Sunday, and if Stewarton fail to win they will be looking at the result between Nithsdale and Cumnock Jnrs, both of whom are Plate-bound, to see whose results will be eliminated from their totals in the second-place comparisons.
Finally, GROUP K finished with unbeaten Ayr United Development in the last 16. Ardrossan Winton Rovers will lose six points and +3 goal difference against Dalbeattie Star, and again 3 points will not be enough.
