Stakes high in top-two shoot-out

THE rivalry which has developed between Glasgow City and Hibernian is a really positive development for the women’s game, with the latest episode to be played out at Albyn Park this afternoon.

City won a low-key league game rather easily in May, but Hibs came roaring back to lift the SWPL Cup with a dramatic late goal. The Edinburgh club can go top of SWPL1 today with a win, but the defending champions will go five points clear should they prevail.

With Celtic very close to joining the top two in what should be a three-way title race next season, many clubs are raising their games and providing the sport with muchneeded improved competition.

It is always important to point out that women’s football is evolving in trying circumstances, with almost no financial backing and bereft of traditional fan bases. It’s a labour of love for most of those involved – players, coaches and administrators – and that’s how it’s likely to remain for the foreseeable future.

That said, it can’t be ignored that the board of Scottish Women’s Football did not cover themselves in glory during a week when the focus should have been on the game between the top sides.

First up was the quarter-final draw for the Scottish Cup. It was due to have been made at an SWF board meeting on Monday night. A tweet on the official account that afternoon advised us to stay tuned for details.

Yet, nothing appeared and it eventually emerged that the draw took place at Hampden on Tuesday. Apparently unforeseen circumstances stopped it going ahead the previous evening as planned – but if that was the case why not just tweet to that effect?

Worryingly, a long-standing coach in the women’s game says such lack of clarity around cup draws is a standing joke among colleagues at his club and others.

Then on Thursday evening the news filtered out that Celtic had been docked three points – which were awarded instead to Stirling University – for fielding an ineligible player in the first half of the game between the clubs on June 26. The decision could have a huge bearing on who will be relegated from SWPL1, as Stirling are now four points clear of bottom club Forfar Farmington, instead of one.

Despite this, the SWF board saw no reason to release a statement explaining the league management committee’s decision, or the circumstances surrounding it, until their hand was forced on Friday.

My information is the board will learn from these incidents and improve communication. That is a positive response, and one required if women’s football is to maintain its growing credibility and respect.