Rangers clinch title to end City dominance

is a new name on the SWPL 1 trophy for the first time since 2007-08. A 0-0 draw against Glasgow City at Auchenhowie was good enough to give Rangers their first title and end their opponents’ British record of 14 successive winning seasons.

Scottish Women’s Football chair Viv McLaren presented the Rangers players with their medals at the end of a game which disappointed as a spectacle but gave the home side the outcome they wanted.

It was a particularly emotional day for Scotland striker Jane Ross, who was a member of the City side which started the 14-in-a-row run. She went on to play for Swedish side Vittsjo, Manchester City, West Ham and Manchester United before signing for Rangers last summer.

“Credit to Glasgow City,” Ross, who is the top scorer in the current Scotland squad, said. “They’re a top opponent and they’ve done wonders for the women’s game in Scotland.

“I’ve got a huge respect for them as a club, but I’m really happy at what we’ve managed to achieve this season. It’s fantastic to see another name on the trophy.”

Ross and Lizzie Arnot were given little space or time to shine, while it was the same for City’s Priscila Chinchilla, the inaugural PFA Scotland women’s player of the year.

“It was always going to be high tempo and aggressive given what was at stake,” Ross pointed out. “We can be proud that we managed to get the result that we needed.”

In the day’s other SWPL 1 games there were wins for Celtic, Hibernian, Motherwell and Hamilton Accies. East Fife won the Championship play-off and will play in SWPL 2 next term.