Page 18 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.24 2022-23

Mairead Fulton and Lauren Gordon have collected the February
2022-23 Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) Player of the
Month awards.
Fulton becomes the first Glasgow City player to win the
award this season. The last winner for the club was Priscilla
Chinchilla back in May 2021.
The Scottish midfielder played the full 90 minutes in all three
matches in February with City picking up maximum points and
scoring 18 goals in the process.
Fulton provided five assists in the month including an
incredible four in their 8-1 victory at home to Partick Thistle. She
also delivered the final ball for two own-goals, making her direct
contribution for goals nearly 40%.
While recognised by her peers, Fulton’s performances for
Glasgow City have often gone under the radar. With City and
Fulton’s recent success, many believe it might not be long before
she is considered for the Scotland Women’s national team.
In SWPL 2, Lauren Gordon becomes the first ever Montrose
winner of the award after their promotion to the league at the
start of the season.
Gordon, who joined from Aberdeen in December, has helped
her side move to the top of the table and now six points clear of
their nearest rivals.
In February, the forward scored three goals in two games as Montrose secured maximum
points. Gordon’s goals included the opener in their 5-1 win over East Fife and the only goal in their
crucial 1-0 away win over Kilmarnock.
The nominees for the February SWPL award were Carla Boyce (Motherwell), Caitlin Hayes
(Celtic), and Kirsty Howat (Rangers) and for the SWPL 2 award the nominees were Lauren
McGregor (Kilmarnock) and Jane O’Toole (Gartcairn). Photos - Colin Poultney/Malcolm McKenzie

The young Scots have secured promotion to Group ‘A’ following consecutive 4-0 victories over
Israel and Georgia respectively.
The three-team UEFA EURO qualifying tournament at Ainslie Park in Edinburgh was
dominated by the Scots who eased past both opponents.
Laura Berry grabbed four goals across both games, Rebecca Taylor with a brace, Lisa Forrest
and Mason Clark both with individual strikes to complete Scotland’s goalscoring. It was just as
positive in defence with two clean sheets for Ava Easdon and Lucy Inman.
Reflecting on both matches, head coach Pauline MacDonald said: “To come away from any
international fixtures with two clean sheets and multiple goal scorers is fantastic and we’re
absolutely delighted with that.
“We defended very resolutely and nullified the chances that the opposition had. To score is no
easy feat when you’re playing against teams that sit off and play in the mid to low block, having so
many names on the scoresheet is brilliant.
“It shows the desire we have to go out there and attack the game. Some of the best
characteristics of this squad is the amount of desire and belief that they have, which is very
refreshing.”
The young team will now look ahead to the next round of UEFA EURO qualifiers in the autumn
when they’ll compete in the ‘A’ category. MacDonald admits that’s the level they want to be at: “For
our best young players to learn and develop, they need to compete with the best in Europe.
“This squad has just ensured that we have the opportunity to do that this year.
“We’re really proud of this group of players that have helped us on the journey back to that
place and we’re really excited to be back in amongst the best.”
(www.scottishfa.co.uk)
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk