The Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup returned with eight Fourth Round ties being played across the country throughout Sunday.
16 sides battled for a place in the Quarter Finals, and produced an exciting Round of action which saw 43 goals scored, including two hat-tricks.
A 12pm kick-off between Glasgow City and Hibernian was the first match of the day. Just one place separates the sides in the SWPL and it showed on the pitch, the match ending 1-1 after 90 minutes following Lauren Davidson and Leah Eddie’s first-half goals.
A goalless extra-time meant that penalties were needed to separate the teams. After both sides had one penalty saved in the initial five spot kicks, Jo Love hit the bar in sudden death, allowing Hibernian captain, Joelle Murray, to step up and convert the winner.
Captain 🤝 Matchwinner
— Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) February 4, 2024
🙌 @JLMurray17 #ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/ERbgOdHBNM
The second match-up of the day saw East Fife – the lowest ranked side left in this season’s competition – host Heart of Midlothian of the SWPL. Ultimately, the gap in their league standings was made apparent in a rampant win for the Jambos, who beat the SWF Championship side 10-0. Sade Adamoleken was the stand-out performer in the match, bagging a hat-trick.
👏 @heartswomenfc are the first side in the Quarter Final draw!#ScottishCup https://t.co/CN7DREkHJp
— Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) February 4, 2024
1pm brought the kick-off of three more matches, as The Spartans, Montrose and Livingston progressed at the expense of Aberdeen, Stirling University and Gartcairn, respectively.
Despite no break in the deadlock at half time, The Spartans took an early lead in the second half through captain Robyn McCafferty, before Darcie Miller equalised for Aberdeen. As the tie looked to be edging towards extra time, Becky Galbraith came up with the winner.
Montrose had a busy second half of their own, following up a single goal in the first half against Stirling University with four more unanswered strikes after the break, two of them coming from Demi Taylor. Stirling University did have the opportunity to get on the scoresheet through a penalty kick, but hit the post.
At the Tony Macaroni Stadium, meanwhile, Gartcairn bagged a late equaliser against a Livingston side that had been reduced to ten players early in the second half.
The extra time period that followed saw each side score, which took the match to penalties. In the shootout that followed, Livingston advanced with a 4-3 win.
The day was rounded off with three matches at 4pm, including the reigning Cup holders, Celtic. They comfortably beat Hamilton Academical 5-0, with Natalie Ross scoring a first-half hat-trick in new head coach, Elina Sediku’s first Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup match in charge.
Elsewhere, a competitive tie between Glasgow sides Partick Thistle and Queen’s Park saw The Jags run out 3-1 winners. As part of the win, Carla Boyce scored her first goal since moving to Thistle last month.
Rosie McQuillan gives @ThistleWFC an early lead over @QueensParkWFC 😃#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/ELjcftYPAF
— Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) February 4, 2024
Finally, Rangers – beaten finalists last season – advanced into the Quarter Finals with a comprehensive 9-0 win over Dundee United at Broadwood Stadium, with seven different scorers getting in on the act, including Lisa Martinez, who scored on her return from a long injury lay-off.
Scottish gas Women's Scottish cup Fourth Round Results
East Fife 0-10 Heart of Midlothian
Glasgow City 1-1 Hibernian (AET) – Hibernian win 5-4 on penalties.
Hamilton Academical 0-6 Celtic
Livingston 2-2 Gartcairn – Livingston win 4-3 on penalties.
Montrose 5-0 Stirling University
Partick Thistle 3-1 Queen's Park
Rangers 9-0 Dundee United
Spartans 2-1 Aberdeen
Your full-time results from today's @scottishgas Women's Scottish Cup Fourth Round 🏆#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/viyIQsDRoe
— Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) February 4, 2024
Quarter-Final Draw
The draw for the Quarter-Final of the Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup will take place on Monday, 5 February at 6pm, live on Scottish Cup social channels.
Scotland's record-goalscorer Julie Fleeting will join host Eilidh Barbour to conduct the draw.