Rangers extend SWPL lead as Celtic slip up

Kenzie Weir (second right) scored twice for Glasgow City against Partick Thistle

Rangers extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Women's Premier League to three points after Celtic were held to a 1-1 draw away to sixth-placed Heart of Midlothian.

Reigning champions Glasgow City remain eight points behind Rangers after thumping Partick Thistle 6-0.

Motherwell won 1-0 away to Dundee United, while Spartans and Montrose drew 1-1.

• Reaction & as it happened

Hearts had scored twice in the opening eight minutes before losing to Celtic earlier this season and started brightly again in Edinburgh.

Put through on goal after nine minutes, Georgia Timms had her first effort saved by Kelsey Daugherty, but the striker followed up to slip her second under the goalkeeper.

Centre-half Caitlin Hayes fired low on the turn to equalise 10 minutes after the break, but despite late pressure, Fran Alonso's visitors could not find a winner.

Rangers also did not find it easy against Hamilton and it took 36 minutes before midfielder Chelsea Cornet shot past Chloe Nicholson.

Mia McAulay's shot evaded Nicholson four minutes after the break, while fellow forward Lizzie Arnot found the far corner with a fine drive from the edge of the penalty box before McAulay slotted her second.

City were two ahead within the opening 19 minutes in their Petershill Park derby.

Emily Whelan had already headed against the crossbar before midfielder Aleigh Gambone tapped in an Amy Muir cross and, within two minutes, winger Lauren Davidson's low drive sneaked under goalkeeper Megan Cunningham.

Early substitute Lisa Forrest slotted in the third and, soon after the break, Davidson pounced on a slack pass in the Thistle defence to fire in off a post.

Thistle threatened as some slackness crept into City's play, but Kenzie Weir prodded in from close range after Cunningham had touched a corner on to the far post before the centre-half headed her second in the closing seconds.

Motherwell struck early away to United when midfielder Jo Addie rose at the back post to head in from a corner and that was enough to secure a win that increases the gap between themselves and their hosts to six points.

Montrose took an early lead away to Spartans when midfielder Demi Taylor found the net from long range against Spartans.

However, midfielder Erin Henderson headed in for Spartans late on to salvage a point as the visitors stay one point ahead of the second-bottom Edinburgh side.

Hibernian had moved above Thistle into fourth after thumping Aberdeen 7-0 on Friday.

Jorian Baucom scored a hat-trick, Brooke Nunn added a double and the other goals came from Shannon McGregor and Kirsty Morrison.