Two first-half goals from Stenhousemuir was enough to inflict a first defeat of the Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship season on Inverness Caledonian Thistle, sending East Fife clear at the top of Scotland’s third tier of women’s football.
Stenny skipper Jude Connolly was in the right place to knock in an Eva Ralston cross to put her side ahead before striker Praise Adebo doubled the advantage after Caley Thistle keeper Jen Horrocks had done well to block a strike from Elisha Duff. Stenny had their own keeper Rosie Alexander to thank for a string of second-half saves that kept the home side at bay.
Earlier East Fife had won 3-0 against Forfar Farmington at Station Park, with goals from Anderson, Skivington and Guppy to maintain the Methil side’s good early season form.
Glasgow Women also experienced their first defeat of the season, as Dryburgh Athletic returned to Dundee with a 3-2 victory, with goals from Laing, Brady and Irvine. The Renfrewshire derby ended with a 4-0 victory to Renfrew Ladies over Morton, while Stirling University won by the same scoreline over bottom-placed team Hutchison Vale.
In the later game, Falkirk dominated at home with a 9-0 victory over Westdyke at the Falkirk stadium. In the Barclays Scottish Women’s League One, a red card for Rachel Ashe late in the first half didn’t prevent St Mirren earning a hard-fought 4-1 away win against Edinburgh Caledonia at Meadowbank to climb to the top of the table.
Inverurie Locos dropped their first points of the season after a sensational second half comeback by Kilwinning saw them rescue a point for their long trip back to Ayrshire. Molly Bradley completed her hat trick deep into injury time, adding to an earlier strike by Caitlin Martin on the hour mark.
Earlier, Airdrie Ladies beat Dunipace 4-2 and Queen of the South claimed a 4-1 victory at Giffnock. Kyha McGurk scored nine goals for Armadale Thistle in a comfortable 12-0 victory away to Dundee West.