I was happy to see that Aberdeen Women picked up their first league win of the season on true home soil with an inspired performance in front of Pittodrie’s Main Stand.
The Dons won 2-0 against fellow SWPL 1 strugglers Glasgow Women on Sunday, which lifted them four points clear of their opponents in a game that became touted as a crucial fixture in the relegation fight.
Home advantage was maximised by hosting the match on true home soil and the added calibre that the venue brought to the game galvanised the Reds in a match that carried quite a bit of pressure.
History was created by Nadine Hanssen, who nodded in the first-ever goal for Aberdeen Women at Pittodrie to give the Dons the lead in the opening period. That advantage was extended by a similar finish from Jess Broadrick, who headed in to make it 2-0 and send the game out of reach of the travelling side before half-time.
Aberdeen must stay in the top-flight and the start so far this season has meant they find themselves at the wrong end of the table, as they still sit second-bottom even after the win at Pittodrie.
The side’s form has started to diminish and although there have been moments of quality and signs of changing tides, the points on the board tell the story that matters most.
Second season blues for Aberdeen?
With young players, trying to turn that momentum can be even more difficult and so the win is an enormous result at this point in the season.
Broadrick, Bayley Hutchison and Francesca Ogilvie were three players last season who used the impetus of their own strong start to thrust Aberdeen up the table – and perhaps benefitted from the fearlessness of being newly promoted and burden-free of any expectation.
The second season is always renowned for being more difficult to match that level.
Consistency becomes more challenging and greater scrutiny from opposing teams means you need to continue to perform even better in order to reap the same rewards.
That first win will hopefully be something now that those young players – and the rest – can lean on.
The next two matches come against Motherwell and Dundee United who sit within reach in the table after Sunday’s triumph, which means more opportunity, along with equal measures of pressure, to get back-to-back results.
The side will now have an extra few weeks of preparation before there next league game against Motherwell on November 20.
That is because this weekend hosts the SWPL Cup semi-finals, which the Dons have already been eliminated from and then the domestic game will pause for the international window that follows immediately afterwards.
For Aberdeen Women, I hope we see more matches at Pittodrie confirmed on the season’s fixture list. It is a trend that almost every club down south has slowly started to increase, and based on Sunday afternoon, it is a win for all.
With close to 2,000 fans turning out, the club has a starting point to build upon and with the right strategy I am positive those numbers will rise quickly.
Scotland regroup after World Cup qualifying heartbreak
The Scotland Women’s team will be back together next week for the first time since the World Cup qualifying play-off final defeat to Republic of Ireland last month.
The squad was announced during the week and comprises a number of changes, which includes a first call-up for Rangers’ winger Brogan Hay, along with the opportunity for Erin Clachers and Rebecca McAllister to earn their first caps.
Thirteen of the squad that have been named in the 26-player roster play domestically in Scotland, which will put to the test the level of the game here, while experienced players Lana Clelland, Lisa Evans, Christie Murray and Emma Mukandi are all missing next week, opening the door for the younger players to show what they can do.
Swipe below to see the squad and details for our upcoming camp in Spain, where we will face Panama and Venezuela in a friendly double-header 🏴#SWNT
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 1, 2022
Scotland will play two friendlies against Panama and Venezuela in Spain on November 12 and 14, respectively. The challenge matches propose a different opposition with it being the first time any of the squad will have played either country.
After the disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Cup, the window presents a chance for a number of changes to the squad, as the next qualification matches will not start until the end of next year.
For me, coming back together in the circumstances is a difficult thought, but equally it could be a time where the squad can look to heal and progress together.
The weeks since the last camp continue to be difficult as the reminders of next summer come in many different moments, but we must now look to what the next target is.
Brighton boss becomes first managerial casualty in WSL
The first managerial casualty of the season came in the WSL, as Hope Powell resigned from her role at Brighton & Hove Albion following their 8-0 defeat to Spurs last weekend.
The result left the Seagulls second from bottom and on just three points after five games.
In the same week, Leicester City, who are the only side below Brighton in the standings, relieved Lydia Bedford from her duties as manager. Director of Football and former Hibernian manager, Willie Kirk will replace her.
Meanwhile, Arsenal captain Kim Little, looks set to be sidelined after suffering a knee injury last weekend against West Ham with the time out yet to be confirmed.
