Time Stands Still, But Narratives Do Not

As Motherwell defeat Spartans 1-0 at K Park we look at two sides looking to create noise around their own narratives for the season ahead.

“It’s great to be back, innit!?”

Post-match words from goal-scoring Motherwell forward Kaela McDonald-Nguah that raised a smile following her side’s 1-0 victory over Spartans at K Park as the second week of SWPL action came to its conclusion.

In some ways the second week of the season is harder to hype than any other. The brightly coloured smoke from an opening weekend content explosion has already dissipated. The construction of lego wind turbines and creatively worded World Cup predictions are replaced by press conferences and post-match conversational dances.

At this secondary stage of what will be a long and winding season the pristine narrative strands that will thread together stories over the course of the SWPL season are yet to entwine. Ends, for the moment at least, yet to be frayed as fixtures that will push conversations in one direction and pull them in another the following week slowly start to knot, leaving behind discourses to be unpicked and dissected.

It’s in this week that the fact check on people’s commitment to increasing the visibility of the women’s game in Scotland starts to be put to the test and that the hard work truly continues both on the pitch and off it.

In many ways Motherwell v Spartans is the type of fixture that for the uninitiated will barely register a compression on the weaver’s pedal as they pull together their version of a Scottish women’s football tapestry. Neither side will end the season as champions and both would view the season as disappointing if they were to find themselves in amongst the relegation fight at the bottom and, if they are not playing one of the title protagonists, their position will most likely be set amongst the league’s undercard. However, this Sunday gave two sides an opportunity to lay down a marker in the race for a Top Six finish. A pair of strands that may not start together but are near certainties to eventually plait.