Dunipace have secured a place in the Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship with a 2-1 victory in their play-off against Armadale Thistle.
A closely contested tie at Ochilview was decided by set pieces, as Dunipace turned in two corners despite the heroics of Armadale goalkeeper Rose Thomson.
Dunipace’s talismanic forward Claire Hutton stole a ball off the foot a defender in the opening moments but Thomson smothered bravely at her feet.
Armadale Thistle settled into the game however, and started to enjoy more possession, winning a number of corners but failing to make them count, while Dunipace looked pacy on the counter.
Thomson remained the busier keeper however, and on 18 minutes she saved bravely again at the feet of Hutton, after the Dunipace striker had latched onto a loose header and looked certain to score.
But Dunipace would get their opening goal on 24 minutes, Rebecca Robertson turning a corner in at the far post.
Armadale seemed unfazed and kept to the game plan, and were rewarded ahead of half time when Jess Wheeler was tripped just outside the box and Ruth Gorman’s free kick rifled into the top corner to give Dunipace keeper Jess Lothian no chance.
The Denny side looked frustrated on the restart, with Kirsty McLeod using her pace to create openings on the left but with little in the way of chances. But they would restore their lead on the hour mark with another goal from a corner, this time off Hutton’s head.
Armadale sent on some pace on the wings through Zoe Simpson and Jemma Gilbertson, but could not find a breakthrough to create clear cut chances to trouble Lothian.
At the other end, Thomson produced a brilliant fingertip save to deny McLeod on 82 minutes after the winger had been played in by a clever flick from Hutton, but the 2-1 scoreline was enough to send Dunipace into the highly competitive Barclays Scottish Women’s Championship for the 2026/27 season, joining among others East Fife and Stirling University, who have dropped down from SWPL2.
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