East Fife stretch lead at the top of the Barclays Scottish Championship with 2-1 win

East Fife have stretched their lead at the top of the Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship to nine points, after securing a 2-1 victory at nearest challengers Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The visitors claimed an early penalty but were unable to convert, and the Highlanders looked to capitalise when Connie Bell opened the scoring for the hosts as half-time approached. Their joy was short-lived as Fife skipper Teri Skivington produced a quick equaliser just minutes later to bring the game level at half-time.

Skivington added a winner early in the second half to secure the points, adding the lightest of touches on a ball from Nicola Wallace to tip it past onrushing Caley Thistle goalkeeper Jen Horrocks.

The defeat leaves Inverness Caledonian Thistle back down to third after Stenhousemuir demolished Westdyke 14-0 to jump up two places into second on goal difference. Former Ayr United striker Paige Henry struck six goals against the Aberdeenshire visitors while former Rossvale star Sarah MacLeod grabbed four.

Glasgow Girls and Women moved within ten points of the top with a 3-1 win over Forfar Farmington, Renfrew Ladies beat Stirling University 3-0 and Dryburgh Athletic claimed a comfortable 4-0 win at Morton. Falkirk dominated in Edinburgh, winning 10-0 against Hutchison Vale despite some bravery in the Hutchie goal by Sophia Anderson.

Bonnyrigg Rose remain top of the Barclays Scottish Women’s League One after an impressive 3-0 home win over in-form Dunipace. Caitlin Lowe opened the scoring after just four minutes with a spectacular volley after a corner and the game would remain at a frantic pace, both keepers being tested before Jen Brown smashed in a free kick around the 20 minute-mark. Dunipace had opportunities to level with two chances that just cleared the crossbar, then Rose keeper Denise Dudgeon produced a string of saves to keep out the visitors to see out the half.

Both ‘keepers continued their fine form into the second half before Rebecca Murray latched onto a ball from Brown on 70 minutes and struck from outside the box to seal the win.

Second-placed Armadale Thistle kept up the pressure with a 5-1 home victory over Edinburgh Caledonia, while Inverurie Locos leapfrogged St Mirren with a 2-0 win in Paisley and Queen of the South moved into fourth with a 5-1 win over Kilwinning.

Airdrie Ladies beat Giffnock SC 2-1 to move seven points from the top six with four games left before the League One split.

In the regional SWFL, Glenrothes Strollers maintained their lead at the top of the East division with a hard-fought 2-1 win against Edinburgh University Thistle. In SWFL West, former Morton player Sandra Craig scored a first-half hat-trick in Bishopton’s 4-0 win over Clydebank to keep them top of the table, while second-placed Rossvale Development were beaten 6-3 by Dumbarton, with Catriona McAllister grabbing four.

In SWFL North, Arbroath leapfrogged Huntly into fourth after beating their hosts 1-0 in a tight game, while Elgin and Grampian both won to keep pressure on leaders Ross County. Cambusdoon remain unbeaten and top of an unchanged SWFL South table after a 11-2 victory against Ardrossan Winton Rovers.

And in SWFL Central Dunfermline Athletic remain top with a 5-0 win at Murieston and Cumbernauld United came out on top of the Cumbernauld derby with a 5-1 victory over Colts.

The weekend also saw the 2025 ScottishPower Youth Challenge Cup kick off, with a record number of teams at 14s, 16s and 18s taking part in the preliminary stages.