Scottish football's 18-year wait for title ended after dramatic finale as Rangers miss out on two big prizes

Hibs Women have won the SWPL1 title for the first time in 18 years after they defeated Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox to clinch their crown.

Hibs headed into the match against Rangers on the final day of the season three points clear of their Glasgow counterparts, but with an inferior goal difference. It meant that if the hosts were to win in the Sunday lunchtime kick-off, they would be crowned champions.

However, Grant Scott’s Hibs side put in a resolute performance in Govan, defending brilliantly and pinching a goal on 74 minutes when centre-half Linzi Taylor hooked the ball past Rangers goalkeeper Jenna Fife following a dangerous cross from Kathleen McGovern.

Hibs Women lift the SWPL title after beating Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox. | SNS Group

Rangers dominated most of the match but were unable to properly test Hibs No 1 Noa Schumacher and paid the price for their inefficiency. They also ended the match with ten women after Laura Rafferty was send off for a professional foul in stoppage time. The defeat killed off any hopes of a treble for Jo Potter’s team, who also missed out on Champions League football next season after being overtaken in second place by Glasgow City.

Across the city at Petershill Park, Kimberley Smit and Nicole Kozlova netted either side of the interval as City took down Hearts Women 2-0. They finish the season on 74 points, three behind Hibs and three ahead of Rangers, who ended up third.

Potter will now have to rejuvenate her players ahead of next Sunday’s Scottish Cup final, when they take on Glasgow City at Hampden Park.

However, the day belonged to Hibs, who came into the campaign unfancied but held their nerve when the pressure was really on to get their hands on the title for the first time since 2007. They also recovered from losing the League Cup final 5-0 to Rangers earlier in the season.

“I’m so emotional,” said matchwinner Taylor. “It’s not sunk in yet. I’m delighted for everyone, I’m so made up. This is the stuff you dream of as a wee girl. We knew a draw would get us the title but we came here for all three points.

“I think a lot of people wrote us off. We’ve come so far as a team. This isn’t just as a group of players, this is everyone at the club. They’ve given us so much backing. And the fans, this is for them. They’ve given us so much support.”

Hibs celebrate on a difficult day for Rangers in Govan. | SNS Group

Midfielder Kirsten Reilly said: “It’s unreal. At the beginning of the season, we would have taken this. We’ve not the budget other teams do, but we’ve got the togetherness, we’ve got the friends in team and we play for each other. When the clock hit 91 minutes, that’s when I could relax.”

Captain Rachael Boyle, who has been sidelined by injury over the past few weeks, added: “I’m so proud. The girls gave everything. Everyone put their bodies on the line. For the whole club, the men, youth, women’s, everyone has bought into it all.”

Elsewhere in the top six of the league on the final day of the season, Celtic secured fourth place after a comprehensive 6-0 victory at home to Motherwell, with Lucy Ashworth-Clifford grabbing a brace.