SWPL round-up: Rangers draw with Glasgow City; Celtic beat Hearts; Aberdeen and Hibernian win | Football News

It remains all to play for in the Scottish Women’s Premier League title race as champions Rangers and leaders Glasgow City played out an entertaining goalless draw.

Rangers’ Brogan Hay came closest to opening the scoring in the first half at Broadwood Stadium but her effort from inside the box went over.

It was City’s turn to go closest next as a defensive mix-up presented Lauren Davidson with a chance inside the box, only to be denied by a clearance from Gers captain Kathryn Hill.

Malky Thomson’s side pushed for a late winner but found Scotland’s Lee Gibson on form as she kept the champions at bay.

Glasgow City, who host Partick Thistle next, remain seven points clear of third-place Rangers, but just three ahead of closest challengers Celtic.

Rangers could reduce that gap to four points if they beat Aberdeen in their game in hand on Wednesday.

Heart of Midlothian 1-2 Celtic

Celtic ended Hearts’ unbeaten home record in the SWPL to close that gap on City.

It was a close match between second and fourth and it took Celtic 28 minutes to find an opener as Amy Gallacher and Jacynta Galabadaarachchi combined, with the former unselfishly laying off for Jacynta to score her 13th goal in the SWPL.

Just two minutes later Celtic doubled their lead as Shen Menglu’s effort went in off the post, giving Fran Alonso’s side a 2-0 lead at the break.

Celtic had conceded just two league goals this season but Hearts found a route back into the match as they reduced the deficit five minutes into the second half, with top goalscorer Georgia Timms setting up Jennifer Smith.

The Jambos were almost level with 12 minutes to go as Rebecca McAllister’s free-kick was headed towards goal, only to be cleared off the line, as Celtic held on for a vital three points.

Celtic take on Aberdeen on Sunday, while Hearts face an away trip to Motherwell next.

Partick Thistle 0-4 Hibernian

Hibernian closed the gap on their rivals Hearts to just five points, with a comfortable win over Partick Thistle at Petershill Park.

After a goalless meeting between the clubs last time out, it took just nine minutes for the first goal in this game as Nor Mustafa headed home Joelle Murray’s cross for her third goal in the SWPL.

New signing Katie Lockwood then got in on the act after 21 minutes with her second goal in three appearances.

Hibs rounded off the win after the restart as Eilidh Adams curled home from outside the box, before Kirsty Morrison – with her second SWPL goal of the season – made it 4-0.

Thistle’s Megan Cunningham then denied Lucy Parry from the spot to prevent Hibs from getting a fifth.

The Easter Road club remain fifth, five points off the top four and host bottom-of-the-table Glasgow Women next.

Partick Thistle, who remain in the top-six, have a tough test in the ‘Petershill Park Derby’ against Glasgow City next.

Glasgow Women 0-1 Aberdeen

At the other end of the table, Aberdeen narrowly saw off Glasgow Women in the battle at the bottom of the SWPL, moving themselves up to ninth in the process.

It was goalless at the break at New Tinto Park, however, Dons interim head coach Gavin Levey made two changes at the break and was rewarded three minutes after the restart.

Hannah Stewart, with her second goal in three matches, fired home what would prove to be the winner and moved Aberdeen out of the relegation play-off spot.

They face Rangers on Wednesday before taking on Celtic on Sunday, while Glasgow Women face Hibernian next as they look to pick up their first points of the season and find the 13 needed for potential safety.

Hamilton Academical 2-2 Dundee United

Hamilton Accies and Dundee United both dropped down the table, despite an entertaining draw at New Douglas Park.

United’s top goalscorer Danni McGinley gave her side the lead after 13 minutes, climbing highest to head home the opener.

That lead lasted just five minutes however, as Lauren Evans found an equaliser from a tight angle.

At the other end, McGinley was involved again and won her side a penalty after being tripped by the Accies goalkeeper and jumped up to take the spot kick, slotting home for her fourth goal in three games after 25 minutes.

Victory for United would have meant they finished the day ninth in the table, but it wasn’t to be as Accies found another equaliser with just over 15 minutes left, as a ball in from the left by Eilidh Martin evaded everyone and went straight in.

The draw means both sides drop down a place in the table, with Accies now in the relegation play-off spot. Both sides are at home next as Hamilton host Spartans and United take on Rangers.

Spartans 0-0 Motherwell

There was nothing to separate Spartans and Motherwell, who went into this game level on points, at Ainslie Park.

In difficult conditions, neither side were able to dominate or create any clear-cut chances and shared the points, after their 2-2 draw earlier in the campaign.

Both sides remain as they were in the table, but now just two points off a place in the top-six after Partick Thistle’s defeat. Spartans are away to Hamilton Accies next, while Motherwell are home to Hearts.

Confirmed Scottish Premiership fixtures live on Sky Sports

Sunday February 5: St Johnstone vs Celtic, kick-off 12pm

Sunday February 19: Motherwell vs Hearts, kick-off 12pm

Sunday March 5: St Mirren vs Celtic, kick-off 12pm

Saturday March 18: Motherwell vs Rangers, kick-off 12.30pm

Sunday April 2: Ross County vs Celtic, kick-off 12pm

Saturday April 8: Celtic vs Rangers, kick-off 12.30pm

Sunday April 9: Dundee United vs Hibernian, kick-off 12pm

Scottish Premiership & SWPL on Sky Sports

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