Barclays Scottish Women’s leagues split for final rounds

The Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship and League One have split into their top and bottom halves for the final rounds which will decide the respective promotion and relegation battles.

East Fife are in pole position for automatic promotion to SWPL2, after a 2-1 victory over Falkirk put the Methil side 14 points clear at the top of the Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship with only 15 points still to play for.

Only a single point separates the next four sides in the race for the promotion spot in second, however, with Stirling University on 42 points and Glasgow Girls and Women, Falkirk and Renfrew Ladies all on 41. Glasgow Girls in third have the same goal scored and conceded as the Bairn, and with the two previous league meetings between the sides ending in a draw, Glasgow are third due to a greater number of away goals scored. Inverness Caledonia Thistle make up the top six only two points behind.

The top of the Barclays Scottish Women’s League is also competitive, with leaders Bonnyrigg Rose and second-placed Armadale Thistle only separated by a point, and both recording 4-1 victories over Kilwinning and Queen of the South respectively. Inverurie Locomotive Works in third beat basement side Dundee West 13-0, while a Claire Hutton hat-trick helped Dunipace confirm their top six status with a 4-0 win over second-bottom Giffnock Soccer Centre. Airdrie held St Mirren to a draw at home.

While the side finishing bottom of League One will be relegated to their local SWFL division, the side finishing second bottom will enter a play-off against the winners of SWFL South. That league saw a top-of-the-table clash this week, with leaders Cambusdoon moving eight points clear with a 4-3 victory over Giffnock’s development side. The SWFL North also saw a big game, with Elgin City beating title rivals Ross County 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller to go three points clear at the top.

The ScottishPower Highlands and Islands league kicked off its 2025 season, with Buckie Ladies running out 8-0 winners at Clachnacuddin, Caithness beating Sutherland Women 4-2 and Orkney Women winning 2-1 against visiting Nairn St Ninian.