Falkirk return to winning ways in the Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship

Falkirk have returned to winning ways in the Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship with a 4-0 victory over West Lothian side Armadale Thistle.

Gemma Mason opened the scoring by thundering in a strike in the first half, but Armadale were doing well to contain the league leaders. But in the second half strikes from Anna Dickov, Olivia Murphy and Lucy McArthur ensured the Bairns maintained a five-point lead at the top of Scotland’s third tier of women’s football.

Renfrew Ladies remain second after a comprehensive 15-1 victory over struggling Glasgow Girls and Women, while third placed Rossvale scored twice in the dying minutes to win 3-1 and deny Forfar Farmington a point in Kirkintilloch.

Dryburgh Athletic were 3-0 up against Ayr United, and despite a two goal fightback from the home side held on for the win. A strong second half by Bonnyrigg Rose saw them leapfrog hosts Stenhousemuir in the table with a 4-2 victory, while Inverness Caledonian Thistle were imperious at home with a 7-3 win against Morton.

Dunipace have climbed to first in Barclays Scottish Women’s League One after beating Dunfermline 5-0 in Fife. A first-half hat trick by the league’s top scorer Claire Hutton was followed by two from Bethany Adamson in the second half to put the managerless Pars into second bottom in the table.

Elgin City moved into second with an exciting 5-3 win in Airdrie, while Cambusdoon moved into the top six after a pulsating 6-4 victory over bottom side Edinburgh Caledonia. Queen of the South and Inverurie Loco Works produced an excellent advert for the league in an entertaining  2-2 stalemate at Palmerston Park, while Westdyke claimed a crucial three points at home with a 2-1 win over Glenrothes Strollers.

Sunday also saw the last sixteen round of the ScottishPower Regional League Cup and Plate, with SWFL East leaders and cup holders Edinburgh University Thistle needing extra time to put out last year’s Plate finalists Grampian Ladies in the cup, while Benburb beat fellow strugglers Blairgowrie 7-0 to progress to the Plate quarter finals.