The first game on season 2026-27 finished all square with Spartans picking up the bonus point, in the Sky Sports Cup Round 1, with a 4-2 win in the penalty shoot-out.
A Summer Thomson thunderbolt in the 23rd minute was cancelled out by a 51st minute equaliser by Niamh Noble.
Ross Stornmouth named a starting eleven which included two players making their debut – Charley Dickson and Rebecca McAllister – and a returning player – Olivia King on the bench.
Today’s squad also include two trialists who each got some minutes.
Queen’s kicked off with a strong breeze behind them. But it was Spartans who started the stronger, pushing the Spiders back for the opening ten minutes. They fired a number of crosses into the home side’s box. Jasmine McPhie, in goal, looked confident as she gathered most of the crosses. Charley Dickson, playing her first game for the Spiders, was being put under pressure, but coped with the danger like a veteran.
Queen’s had their first shot on goal in the 11th minute when Rebecca McAllister broke down the right wing, cut the back to the edge of the box for Murron Cunningham, captain for the day, to test the Spartans keeper.
After defending quite deep in the opening period, Queen’s started to push up and deny Spartans space in the middle of the park. The game was now more evenly balanced with both sides pushing for the opening goal.
That goal came in the 23rd minute when Rachel Wright broke up a Spartans attach, immediately played the ball through to Rebecca McAllister, who in turn played SUMMER THOMSON in. Summer took a couple of paces and drilled the ball home from the edge of the box wide left. A well worked and executed goal.
That Queen’s goal rattled the League Champions with Queen’s enjoying a period of domination, Summer Thomson, Ellie Kane and trialist all testing the Spartans keeper.
Half-time: Queen’s Park 1 Spartans 0.
Now facing the wind, Queen’s were immediately put under pressure by the Edinburgh side who looked determined to get back in the game.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 50th minute when Izzy young was upended at the edge of the Queen’s box. NIAMH NOBLE stepped up and fired the ball high into the far corner to bring the score to 1-1.
Midway through the second period Queen’s made a triple substitution with Abbie Cusack, Rachel Wright and trialist being replaced by Ciara Bonner, Olivia King and trialist. Olivia making her second debut for the club since returning from Partick Thistle.
The three fresh players certainly made a difference with Queen’s now pushing for a second goal. This injection of pass resulted in both Summer Thomson and Ellie Kane having shots on goal.
Charley Dickson, after an excellent debut, was replaced by another player making her Queen’s debut – Evie Swann.
In the 80th minute Queen’s were really pushing for the winner with Murron Cunningham and Summer Thomson keeping the Spartans keeper on her toes.
Queen’s final substitutions introduced Lila Sallis and Rosie McQuillan to the game. Lila making her Queen’s debut.
Two minutes from time Rosie McQuillan broke down the right and cut the ball back to an in-rushing Olivia King. Olivia fired a low shot into the post, only to see Alicia Yeats push the ball past the post for a Queen’s corner.
The game ended 1-1. As in the rules of the Sky Sports Cup it was onto penalties, which Spartans won 4-2 to gain the additional point.
Full-time: Queen’s Park 1 Spartans 1.
Queen’s Park: Jasmine McPhie, Rachael O’Neill, Abbie Cusack (Ciara Bonner), Ellie Kane, Summer Thomson (Lila Sallis), Charley Dickson (Evie Swann), Darcy Molley, Rachel Wright (Olivia King), Rebecca McAllister (Rosie McQuillan), Trialist (Trialist), Murron Cunningham.
Subs not used: Natalie Angelini.
Starting Eleven
Spartans WFC have been sanctioned by the SWPL for breaches of SWPL League Cup Rules 8.4 and 8.5.1, and SWPL Rules F15 and F69 in fielding ineligible trialists in their Sky Sports Cup League Phase fixture against Queen’s Park on Sunday, 26 July, which ended 1-1 before Spartans won 4-2 on penalties.
Spartans’ Sky Sports Cup Match v Queen’s Park will be recorded as a 3-0 victory for Queen’s Park and the League table updated accordingly.
