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The women of steel’s recent winless run came to a dramatic conclusion in the Granite City, as Motherwell fought off a late Aberdeen resurgence to seal a narrow 3-4 victory at Balmoral Stadium.

Recent addition, Keri Halliday netted the breakthrough on her Motherwell debut, with Dons skipper, Hannah Stewart finding the equaliser on the hour mark. Striker Carla Boyce restored the visitors advantage shortly before the half-time break – leaving Motherwell with a narrow advantage at the break.

The hosts levelled the scoreline for the second time shortly after, with Bridget Galloway finding the net from distance. Boyce converted her second from the penalty spot on the hour mark after being fouled in the Aberdeen box. Boyce completed her hat-trick in the latter stages of the game, escaping her marker before dispatching her strike into the bottom-right corner. Aberdeen scored a late consolation, but the women of steel held out to secure their first victory of Iain Robinson’s tenure.

Head Coach, Iain Robinson started the women of steel’s two new arrivals from the outset, with Hearts loanee, Keri Halliday and Australian youth international, Milly Boughton both named in the starting XI.

After intense pressure on the Aberdeen goal, Motherwell finally found the breakthrough. Halliday burst through on the left-flank before driving at pace towards the Dons penalty area. The youngster cut the ball onto her right-foot before dispatching a magnificent long-range strike over the head of Katie Cox.

Aberdeen skipper, Hannah Stewart made it level shortly after, with a composed finish beyond Emma Thomson.

Boyce soon restored Motherwell’s advantage moments later, with a defensive mix-up allowing Boyce to capitalise with a low strike into the bottom-right corner.

The Dons equaliser came suddenly against the run of play, with Galloway clipping an audacious delivery over the head of Emma Thomson, with the ball nestling comfortably into the top-right corner.

Boyce restored Motherwell’s advantage for a third time from the penalty spot, with the striker completing her hat-trick a moment later.

Abi Tobin narrowed the deficit in the latter stages of the contest, but Iain Robinson’s side held out for the first three-points of the split.

Matchday 19 of the 2025/26 SWPL campaign, and the first of the post-split campaign awaits the women of steel this weekend, as they travel North to face Aberdeen at Balmoral Stadium.

Iain Robinson’s side will face a daunting fight to preserve their top-flight status, with the women of steel ahead of Aberdeen in the relegation playoff position on goal difference.

Motherwell will seek to right the wrongs from their previous meeting with the Dons, with the hosts striking in the latter stages to complete a narrow 2-1 victory. Midfielder, Lucy Ronald discussed the women of steel’s preparations ahead of their visit to the Granite City.

“Preparations have been really good heading into this weekend,” Ronald said.

“We are excited to get back onto the pitch, and push for a positive end to our season.

“We understand that every game is going to be so important in the split, so we aren’t taking our preparations lightly. We recognise the importance of starting in a positive manner, and we have to take belief into the game this weekend.

“Balmoral can be an incredibly difficult place to go, our last visit to Aberdeen showed that. We knew our performance wasn’t good enough or at the standards we’d expect from ourselves, and that’s something we’ve discussed internally as a squad, and is a result we want to put right this weekend.”

The women of steel will have two fresh additions in their matchday squad, with midfielder Milly Boughton and Striker Keri Halliday both available to make their Motherwell debuts this weekend. Ronald noted that their additions has brought some additional positivity to the squad.

“It has been great to get them both in training, and settled into the squad,” Ronald added.

“They have both fitted in with the group really well, and will play a massive part in our push to preserve our status in the top-flight.

Motherwell defied a late Aberdeen comeback in emphatic style, netting a decisive goal with the final kick of the game to continue their nine game unbeaten run whilst surpassing the Dons in the SWPL league table.

Motherwell comfortably cruised to a two-goal advantage in the first-half, with Kayla Jardine’s whipped delivery diverted goal-bound by the foot of an Aberdeen defender before striker Laura berry continued her remarkable goalscoring form with an exceptional solo-run and finish shortly before half-time.

The hosts were soon reduced to 10-players moments later leaving the women of steel firmly in the ascendency heading into the second-half. Despite controlling the first-half, the visitors lost their momentum, with Aberdeen responding with two quick-fire goals against the run of play.

As both sides looked certain to share a closely-fought point, defender Chelsie Watson powered home a header with the last kick of the game to secure the three points and ninth unbeaten game.

Head coach Paul Brownlie made two changes from the side that drew with Montrose at K-Park last weekend, with Bailley Collins and Rebecca Cameron settling for a place on the bench whilst Murron Cunningham and Emily Mutch both returning to the starting XI.

Knowing a victory would propel the women of steel to the top of the split, Motherwell started firmly on the front foot and soon netted the opener within the first two-minutes. Kayla Jardine’s whipped delivery from the left flank coasted across the face of goal and a mistimed Aberdeen interception forced the ball into their own net.

Murron Cunningham was next to test the Aberdeen goal, latching onto Amy Anderson’s precise through ball that sliced through the Aberdeen backline, but the experienced defender lost her footing on the artificial turf, reducing the momentum in her strike.

Morgan Cross carved the next opportunity, racing through a series of Aberdeen jerseys before curling a hopeful right-footed effort from the edge of the penalty area, but the strikers attempt was equally matched by an exceptional reaction save.

Motherwell continued to threaten the Aberdeen half, with the second following shortly before the half-time break. Striker Laura Berry regained possession with a clever interception on the halfway line before running directly through the centre of the Aberdeen half. The youngster skilfully switched the ball onto her left-foot before dispatching a calm and composed finish into the bottom-right corner.

Motherwell looked firm favourites to coast to their seventh victory throughout their impeccable unbeaten run when Aberdeen were reduced to 10-players following a verbal discussion with the match officials.

However, the women of steel suddenly lost their rhythm and momentum in the game, with Aberdeen netting twice in a prolific spell.

However, the women of steel’s never say die attitude prevailed. In the final minute of the game, Katie Rice’s whipped corner kick sailed invitingly to defender Chelsie Watson, who steadied herself before guiding a precise headed effort into the top-left corner to seal a dramatic victory on the road in the Granite City.

Midfielder Milly Boughton has completed a loan deal from defending champions Hibernian until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old Australian youth international spent her formative years close to the Australian capital, Sydney, with the youngster breaking through at the Football New South Wales Institute.

The London-born central midfielder returned to the English capital at 16-years-old, joining West Ham United’s academy, and after a successful trial, Boughton began training with the first-team. Her first season within the club’s academy proved to be a productive one, with Boughton scoring eight-goals in 12-appearances for the Irons.

In 2023, Boughton departed West Ham for the academy of close-rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Boughton soon made her competitive first-team debut for Spurs, after being substituted in a three-nil victory over Bristol City in the English Women’s League Cup.

“I’m really excited to be at Motherwell,” Boughton said.

“The squad have been so welcoming, and it is an opportunity for myself to gain experience in the Scottish top-flight.

“I’m looking forward to getting started.”

After a brief loan-spell with Ipswich Town, the then 18-year-old traded Spurs for North-London rivals, Arsenal, with Boughton becoming the fourth Australian at the club – featuring alongside Matilda’s, Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord.

In her only season at the Emirates, Boughton picked up the PGA under-21 League One Division and PGA Under-21 South Division titles with the young Gunners.

Last September, Boughton made the full transition into professional football, signing her first professional contract with defending champions, Hibernian.

Boughton has represented her national team throughout various age categories, after first being selected for the 2024 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, before making the 25-player squad representing Australia at the tournament in Uzbekistan, with the Matilda’s finishing third.

“We’re really pleased to welcome Milly to the club,” Robinson noted.

“Milly is an exciting young player, who can really add competition to our midfield.

“We are looking forward to seeing her on the pitch.”

Forward Keri Halliday has completed a loan deal from Heart of Midlothian until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old spent her formative years in the Northern Irish footballing pyramid, making 85-appearances for Linfield. The pacey winger scored 53-goals, and assisted 26 throughout her time in South Belfast, with Halliday supporting the side to a third-place finish before crossing the Irish sea to the Scottish capital.

The Balleymoney-born striker made her senior debut for Northern Ireland in a four-nil victory over Albania in 2023, and has since been capped 13-times for her national team.

“I’m really pleased to have joined Motherwell,” Halliday said.

“When Iain spoke to me about coming to the club, I was really excited by the opportunity, and I felt that I could really add to the already talented squad here.

“I’m really looking forward to this weekend.”

Following a successful spell at Linfield, Halliday was named the Northern Ireland Young Player of the Year in 2024.

“We’re excited to add Keri to the club,” Robinson noted.

“Keri is a natural goalscorer, who could really add a new dimension to the attacking players we already have at the club.

“We can’t wait to see her on the pitch for the rest of the season.”

Head Coach – Scott Booth

Sat precariously towards the foot of the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League table, Aberdeen are fiercely battling to preserve their top-flight status.

The Dons kickstarted 2026 in style, defeating Motherwell by two-goals to one at Balmoral Stadium. A frustrating 2-2 stalemate against Hamilton Accies followed, denying Scott Booth’s side the opportunity to evade the relegation playoff position.

Successive defeats to both halves of the Edinburgh divide have compounded their desire to start the post-split campaign on a high, after a six-nil defeat to Hearts preceded a three-nil defeat to defending champions, Hibernian.

Midfielder Darcie Miller added to her goalscoring tally for the campaign in their 2-2 stalemate in Lanarkshire. The 19-year-old twice netted the equaliser for the Dons, with the latter finding the target in the 80^th minute.

Team line-up

English shot stopper and Chelsea loanee, Katie Cox is the preferred option in the Aberdeen goal, with the 19-year-old featuring throughout the season ahead of Anna Prawer. The goalkeeper spent the international break representing the young Lionesses squad, after being selected for the England Under 23-side ahead of a double-header of friendlies, with both France and the Netherlands.

Midfielder, Abi Tobin was the Dons only other international player representing their respective nation over the international break. Tobin featured alongside Motherwell’s Sophie Townsley, and Mia McArthur, as the Scotland Under-19 squad faced a double-header of friendlies against Belgium.

Former Motherwell midfielder, Brodie Greenwood has also become a mainstay regular in the Dons midfield, after departing Hearts on a short-term deal.

Strike Darcie Miller may return to the starting line-up after netting twice against Hamilton Accies. Captain and former interim Head Coach, Hannah Stewart is the likely number nine.

League position

Despite currently occupying the relegation playoff position, Aberdeen could overtake Motherwell if they were to secure victory in the Granite City. Aberdeen sit level on points with the women of steel, but trail Iain Robinson’s side on goal-difference.

Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Dons found out their route to potential survival, with the announcement of the post-split fixtures. After facing the women of steel on the opening weekend, Scott Booth’s side will face successive games on the road against both Hamilton and Montrose.

Aberdeen will then face the reverse fixture against the Gable Endies before facing Hamilton at home. The Dons will finish how they started by concluding their 2025/26 Scottish Power Women’s Premier League campaign against Motherwell in East Kilbride.

Matchday 19 of the 2025/26 SWPL campaign, and the first of the post-split awaits the women of steel this weekend, as they travel North to face Aberdeen at Balmoral Stadium.

Redemption will be on the mind of the visitors, who will return to competitive action this weekend following a fortnight-long international break.

Motherwell will seek to right the wrongs from their previous meeting with the Dons, with the hosts striking in the latter stages to complete a narrow 2-1 victory.

The Tale of the Tape

Motherwell

Iain Robinson’s side will face a daunting fight to preserve their top-flight status, with the women of steel ahead of Aberdeen in the relegation playoff position on goal difference. Motherwell sit four-points adrift of Montrose, who narrowly missed out on the top-six, after closest-rivals Partick Thistle netted a decisive 94^th-minute winner.

The women of steel must reverse their recent misfortunes, with the Lanarkshire side without a victory in their last seven. Victory this weekend could open up a three-point advantage over Aberdeen, and a 12-point lead over Hamilton, who sit at the foot of the SPWPL table.

Four players were involved in international action, with Jenna Penman representing the Scotland under-23 squad alongside Sophie Townsley and Mia McArthur, who both featured for the Scotland under-19s. Recent addition, Keri Halliday also added to her caps for the Northern Ireland senior team.

Aberdeen

The Dons remain the women of steel’s closest-rivals in this closely-fought Scottish Power Women’s Premier League campaign. Aberdeen’s last league victory came against Motherwell in January, with the hosts netting a decisive late winner to earn a narrow 2-1 victory.

Scott Booth’s side have since picked up one-point after being held to a 2-2 draw against Hamilton Accies before successive defeats to both halves of the Edinburgh divide. A six-nil defeat to hearts preceded a three-nil defeat to Hibernian.

Ticket Information 

Tickets can be purchased through the matchday turnstiles at Balmoral Stadium or through Aberdeen’s ticketing platform HERE. Both cash and card payments are accepted.

• Adult – £10.
• Concession (Over-65s and Under-17s) – £5.
• Under-11 – FREE TO ENTER.

Follow our live matchday coverage on the Motherwell Women X (formerly Twitter) account.

International Round-up

Motherwell had three first-team players representing their respective countries over the March international break.

The Scottish youth-international trio of Sophie Townsley, Mia McArthur and Jenna Penman all featured for Scotland at their respective age categories. Here’s how they got on.

Sophie Townsley

A consistent presence in a Scotland jersey, forward Sophie Townsley retained her place in Head Coach, Gary Doctor’s 20-player squad, who travelled South of the Belgian capital, Brussels – facing the Red Devils in a double-header of friendlies in Tubize.

Both matches served as preparation for the National team’s forthcoming second round of UEFA European Qualifiers.

Townsley unfortunately faced a minor injury setback during the opening training session, and despite being named amongst the substitutes for both matchday’s, the forward did not receive any minutes, with Scotland held to a draw in matchday one, before defeating Belgium in matchday two.

Mia McArthur

Midfielder Mia McArthur joined fellow Rangers loanee, and international teammate Sophie Townsley on the plane to the Belgian capital, with McArthur named in the Scottish midfield for the opening matchday. Scotland were held to a 1-1 stalemate, with Hearts’ Jess Husband converting the equaliser, with a precise free-kick.

McArthur also featured in the second meeting between the sides, returning to the pitch as a second-half substitute, with Scotland defeating the hosts 2-1. Former Motherwell striker, Laura Berry, and Liverpool’s Neve McDonald both found the target.

Jenna Penman

A late call-up for the Scotland under-23 squad, defender Jenna Penman travelled to the North of Scotland amongst Michael McArdle’s 18-strong squad to face the Netherlands at the Sarens PSG stadium in Inverness.

Penman was named amongst the substitutes, with the 22-year-old replacing Partick Thistle’s, Addie Handley in the latter stages of the game.

Midfielder Amy Bulloch will join Scottish Power Women’s Premier League 2 side, Kilmarnock on-loan for the remainder of the season.

 Bulloch, who joined the women of steel in the summer under Paul Brownlie, will depart the club in search of regular first-team minutes.

All the best in Ayrshire, Amy.

Survival. The fundamental motivation and mentality of the women of steel, who stare down a daunting fight to preserve their top-flight status.

Motherwell sit precariously above the relegation-playoff position in the Scottish Power Women’s Premier League table, with Aberdeen trailing the women of steel on goal-difference.

The road to survival will start in the Granite City next month, as Motherwell will face the Dons in the opening post-split tie at Balmoral Stadium, and midfielder Sophie Townsley recognises that every game will be a battle for survival.

“Every game will be a battle,” Townsley said.

“Each point could be the difference between survival and relegation, and it will be vital to get off to the right start in the split.

“It will allow us to build that confidence early, and create an advantage over the other clubs, which will hopefully separate ourselves come the end of the season.

“Recent results have been incredibly tough to take as a squad. We feel we have put a lot into our performances, and have been really unfortunate to have left empty-handed. We have to keep working hard and sticking together as a team, as having that strong team bond will really make us stronger on the pitch.”

Motherwell will hope to reverse their recent misfortunes in the Granite City, as an 85^th minute strike from Mya Christie ended a five-game unbeaten run in the North-East. Townsley insists that the squad are relishing the opportunity.

“We are ready to right the wrongs from that day,” Townsley emphasised.

“Our performance wasn’t at the tempo and pace we’d expected until the second-half, and we ultimately didn’t capitalise on and impose our control in the game.

“Credit to Aberdeen, they took their chance when it came, and that’s the small margins in this league. Every game in the split will be as important as each other, but to face one of the teams closest to us on the opening day means that we have to be at our best from the start.

Motherwell’s frustrations persisted last weekend, as invincible league leaders, Glasgow City struck four-times in East Kilbride to compound the hosts seventh-consecutive league defeat. Despite the scoreline, Townsley and her teammates had several positives to take against the full-time side.

“It was obviously going to be an incredibly tough game,” Townsley reiterated.

“City are unbeaten domestically this season for a reason. They are a very strong team, but I felt as a group, we stuck together and showed a real fight. We have to keep working hard and sticking together as a team. We have to keep supporting each other, and build on the togetherness we showed in those recent games, and we have to take that fight and togetherness into the split.

“We have to replicate what we do in training every week. The team is full of talented players, who have shown what they are capable of achieving, so we have to take that belief into each game, and hopefully keep building.”

The women of steel maintain a healthy amalgamation of experience and youth, with Skipper Gill Inglis and Vice-Captain, Chelsie Watson supporting the emergence of exciting young talents from within and outwith the Motherwell academy.

Despite her youthful age of 19, Townsley is experiencing a valuable lesson in top-flight football, with the battle to resist the threat of relegation, but the youngster insists that the balance within the squad could benefit the team for the remainder of the season.

“It’s really good for us to have a variety within the squad,” Townsley added.

“The experienced players, who know and understand the game so well have so much knowledge and experience, and us younger players are just eager to learn from them as much as we can.

“Even though it is a really difficult situation for the club, it is a great experience for myself playing in this league. It’s still my first season in the top-flight, and the team have been great in helping my development.”

As the women of steel prepare for the monumental task of preserving their SPWPL status, Townsley reiterated the importance of support in the stands.

“It’s so important, and means so much for us as a team,” Townsley said.

“People say the fans are the 12^th player, giving encouragement from the stands, and that just pushes us on as players to fight for that extra yard on the pitch.”