Scottish Women's Football

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Rangers have two players nominated for PFA Scotland's SWPL player of the year award, with Celtic and Hibs also represented.

Wales midfielder Rachel Rowe's stellar first season in Scottish football has been recognised, as have the performances of Scotland international Kirsty Maclean for Jo Potter's side.

Meanwhile, Amy Gallacher's sensational goalscoring form at league leaders Celtic earns her a spot on the list.

Jorian Baucom, who has scored one goal fewer than Gallacher with 21, has been a revelation at Hibs - currently fifth in the table.

Rangers' Mclean, 19, is also nominated for young player of the year, alongside team-mate 17-year-old Mia Macauley.

The league's current top goalscorer, Bailey Hutchison, earns her second nomination in three seasons, having racked up 24 league goals from the Aberdeen midfield.

Partick Thistle goalkeeper Ava Easdon rounds off the list off the back of the Glasgow City loanee's strong displays in between the sticks.

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Kathleen McGovern put Hearts' slow start in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final down to Hampden nerves.

It took until the 44th minute for the Edinburgh side to get the breakthrough against Spartans.

Eva Olid's side went on to win 3-0 and will face Rangers in next month's final.

McGovern, who started on the bench and scored Hearts' second with her first touch, said: "We just had to get the job done and we're looking forward to the final.

"It took a bit to get started, it's a bit nerve-wracking playing at your national stadium in a semi-final, we wanted to get to the final.

"It was hard work in the first half but we got the job done in the second half.

"I just had to do my job, make an impact when I came on. I wanted to start but it's obviously the manager's decision. I'm just happy to get my goal."

Hearts will face Rangers in next month's Scottish Cup final but what did you make of Sunday's game?

Hearts fans, are you confident you can get a result off Rangers? Spartans fans, are you pleased with your side's performance despite the result?

Give us your thoughts here.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

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Hearts were simply too good for Spartans, Jack Beesley even admitted that himself.

Even when they weren't celebrating one of the three well-taken goals, they were just toying with their bottom-six opponents.

Ciara Grant and Monica Forsyth were tremendous in midfield, driving their team-mates forward and keeping the potentially threatening Hannah Jordan extremely quiet.

Hampden is a big old pitch, and it will feel even bigger when all you're doing is chasing the ball. There'll be a few early nights among the Spartans ranks tonight.

It was as straight-forward an afternoon as Hearts could've asked for.

They've now had their taste of the national stadium and got a feel for the surroundings. When they come back here next month to take on Rangers, they'll need to up their game a couple notches and ensure no one is too overawed by occasion.

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Spartans head coach Jack Beesley: "I am disappointed but I’m not too proud to say the better team won. Hearts are fourth in the league for a reason and we’re not, we’re at the start of our journey they’re slightly further along.

"The outcome of the game is only thing I’m disappointed with. Everything we asked from the girls I think they did really well.

"The goal just before half time was a bit of a sore one for us but I thought we should that resolution at the start of the second half. Coming back from 2-0 is always a challenge unless you get that moment that gives you a bit of hope to cling onto then it becomes a tough second half.

"Although the emotion is quite raw they shouldn’t be too despondent it is an unbelievable achievement and we should use that as fuel to look for more of those feelings and those days.

"In the league trying to push up the table but in cups trying to get a chance to play at Hampden again.

"Hopefully when the players wake up tomorrow they’ll realise what an achievement it was. I’m really proud of everyone."

Hearts manager Eva Olid: "We knew this was one of the key matches, getting to the final was one of our objectives and we knew it was so important.

"We knew we were trying to balance between the emotions and focusing on the match. In the first minutes we were maybe a little bit nervous but then everything was fine.

"When I came here I knew I wanted this team to be the best. We couldn’t do it in one or two seasons but every season we have taken a step forward. I want us to be competing and fighting for things.

"We have taken more points from Rangers this season than last year and that gives us a message to give to the players, if it happened other times why can it not happen in one game?

"I remember the first season when I watched the first final of the Scottish Cup I thought ‘I want to be here’ and it’s happened two seasons later.

"Just watching the match, the emotions are so high and you feel how special it is to play in a final. I wanted to be there and on the 26th we will be."

Amy Canavan at Hampden Park
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hearts set up a first Women's Scottish Cup final appearance against Rangers next month after brushing aside Spartans 3-0.

Both sides were making their Hampden debut but it was Hearts who looked most at home in a comfortable afternoon for Eva Olid's side.

Kate Mooney poked the Jambos into a half-time lead from close range before substitute Kathleen McGovern headed in a second with her first touch of the ball.

Carly Girasoli ensured Hearts would reach their first domestic cup final with an added-time nod.

Spartans failed to test Charlotte Parker-Smith in goal but Jack Beesley's attention will quickly switch back to league matters and ensuring his side's top-flight status.

Read the full report here

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Chelsea Cornet says Rangers "knew a goal would come" in Saturday's Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic.

It took until the 83rd minute for Jo Potter's side to find the back of the net when Cornet headed Rachel Rowe's cross beyond Kelsey Daugherty.

Kirsty Howat scored the second soon after to make sure of victory and Rangers' place in the final against Hearts.

"I'm over the moon," Cornet said.

"I'm lost for words, we're all buzzing. We never had any panic within the team, we knew the goal would come. I don't score many headers so it's happy days.

"It was a tough game, I think it could've gone either way but we definitely felt on top.

"The goal was a big relief and we went on to score another one after that."

Team-mate Rowe insists Rangers were deserved winners at Hampden.

"I'm immensely proud of the girls," midfielder Rowe said.

"We were dominant the whole game. We didn't want it to go to extra time and deserved to win.

"We brought our A-game and we worked on that all week."

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Head coach Suzy Shepherd hopes Dundee United’s dramatic win over fellow strugglers Hamilton is the confidence boost they need to kick on and secure SWPL survival.

Georgie Robb netted in injury time on Saturday to give bottom club United a 2-1 victory at Tannadice and move them level on points with Accies.

“It’s a massive three points,” said Shepherd.

“Second half wasn’t pretty at times, it was back to front, but when Hamilton scored, the character of the players was unbelievable and they’ve showed their never-say-die attitude to get the win.

“We said before the game we had to dig deep and go right to the final whistle. That’s exactly what they did and I’m really proud of them. They showed a lot of character and togetherness.

“Hopefully this will give them the confidence boost they need. They’re good players and just need to believe in themselves a bit more.”

Hamilton boss Robert Watson bemoaned the concession another late goal in his side's survival bid.

“It's extremely frustrating," Watson said. "That's a number of late goals we've lost from positions where we should be picking up points - Montrose, Spartans and now Dundee United. We should be five points better off.

"It's down to players take some ownership of these moments and we also have to look at how we can help that."

Hannah Jordan says Spartans were "delighted" to be drawn against Hearts for Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final.

The sides face off at Hampden as both look to grab a spot in the Scottish Cup final against Rangers.

"I think we were delighted to get Hearts, but Hearts would have been equally delighted to get us and that's the reality of it," the winger said.

"Obviously it is going be a challenging game in a cup semi-final, but we've run Hearts quite close to the wire in both games we've played them this season.

"It's been 1-0 and 4-3, one of which we were 3-1 up at one point, so we've just got to believe in ourselves come Sunday and we know that we can create chances against them.

"I think last time in the 1-0 game we were pinned back quite a lot defensively so we struggled to create chances and we've acknowledged that and we've got a game plan to counter that.

"But we've shown what we can do against quality sides so we just need to believe in ourselves come Sunday."

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Rangers book their place in the Scottish Cup final as they continue their quest towards a domestic treble.

Elena Sadiku was disappointed in her Celtic side who she says simply weren't good enough.

What did you make of your team's performance at Hampden?

Give us your thoughts here.

Dundee United close the gap to Hamilton Accies at the bottom of the SWPL with a 2-1 victory at Tannadice.

United were three points adrift of Accies at the foot of the top flight table before Saturday's match.

Suzy Shepherd's side took the lead through Robyn Smith and Accies equalised with just six minutes left of the 90.

Georgie Robb's injury time winner secured all three points for the home side and moves them joint on points with Hamilton only separated by goal difference.

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Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

A game that promised so much didn't really deliver. Until the final five minutes or so.

Matches between the two have been ferocious and frantic. In the Hampden sun, it was flat.

A staggering 294 goals had been scored between the pair in domestic competitions this season before today. But it took for over an hour to register a shot on target.

Rangers looked the more comfortable. Passes were strung together and forward runs were made. While that's not exactly impressive, their evident togetherness and desire was.

Jo Potter's side were first to everything, and perhaps that was the biggest difference. They know how to win in an ugly affair.

The scoreline doesn't suggest it, but they were forced to huff and puff against Hibs in their quarter-final, before four late goals made for a pretty 6-2 scoreline.

Winning 2-0 today is certainly a fairer reflection for a side who simply wanted it more. Cornet's header was sublime, while Howat's loft was lovely.

Rangers really didn't want extra-time, Celtic would have taken it to drag the day on.

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Former Scotland international Shelley Kerr says Celtic need to take "collective responsibility" for their defeat to Rangers.

Elena Sadiku's side were beaten 2-0 by their Glasgow rivals in Saturday's Scottish Women's Cup semi-final at Hampden.

"Anything that Celtic got wasn't by design it was by default and you can understand why the manager is disappointed," Kerr said.

"They need to take responsibility as a collective, it is not just down to the players.

"They didn't create enough chances and you have to give credit to Rangers that they didn't allow them to do that."

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Rangers manager Jo Potter:

"I wasn't worried, I knew we'd get more chances.

"I said to the players at half-time I couldn't think of a time that they'd worried us. The game was there for the taking and it was just about who was going to show up.

"We were creating chances and that was the biggest thing for me, that is why I wasn't worried.

"We've got four brilliant strikers to choose from and the substitutions always make a difference."

Celtic manager Elena Sadiku:

"We were not on, it is not the Celtic I am used to seeing and we didn't deserve the win.

"The first half was bad, in the second half we tried to start well but in the end we conceded from a set piece.

"The mindset was not on today and that's the biggest difference so a big disappointment.

"For me it's about learning from this and make sure that this never happens again. If we want to win titles, this is not good enough."

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