Aberdeen 0 Spartans 2 Balmoral Stadium Sky Sports Cup Sunday 9th August 2026 Aberdeen Women returned to Balmoral Stadium for their final Sky Sports Cup group-stage fixture, knowing a win would guarantee at least a place in the play-offs, with automatic qualification also on the table if results elsewhere went their way. Standing in their way were last season’s SWPL 2 champions, Spartans, who came into the game occupying the final automatic qualification spot. The Dons suffered a 2–0 defeat, with Emily Caitlin Cadell’s early strike and Niamh Noble’s second-half corner proving the difference. Katie O’Hanlon kept the Dons in the game with a penalty save, but Aberdeen struggled to create clear-cut chances as Spartans saw out the victory. Report: It was a slow start for Aberdeen as Spartans took the lead after two minutes. Emily Caitlin Cadell snuck in behind the Dons defence to calmly slot into the bottom right corner. The home side’s first chance came from an Aimee Black free kick won by Soraya Walsh. The centre back stepped over it but could only hit up and over the bar. After 15 minutes, the Dons better settled into the game, playing with more confidence and retaining more possession. Millie Buchan enjoyed plenty of touches in the midfield trying to get the ball into dangerous areas for the Dons. Her midfield partner Piper Lea also got involved in the action as she hit a 30-yard half volley that tested the hands of Alicia Yates on the quarter of an hour mark. A head knock halted proceedings with ten minutes to halftime as a boot ricocheted off the face of Piper Mayhew. The momentary stoppage allowed for both sides to regroup; however, the away side looked the better of the sides after play resumed. Natalie Bandura’s strike from inside the box forced a diving save out of O’Hanlon before Noble crossed in for Izzy Young. The winger somehow blazed over from about five yards out. Half Time Aberdeen 0–1 Spartans Mia Selbie replaced Millie Buchan at halftime, meaning Iona Watt moved into midfield. Former Don Noble almost repeated the Spartans quick start as she drove to the edge of the D and struck firmly. Moments later, a quick free kick was played to a free Bandura in the box. She struck first time off the post, keeping the score at 0-1. Spartans were then awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute as Emily Skinner was adjudged to bring down Freya Brien in the box. Captain Robyn McCafferty stepped up to take but her effort was expertly saved by O’Hanlon who dove down to her right to palm to safety. In the 57th minute, Noble’s chance came again but this time under very different circumstances. Her corner sailed over the Dons’ defence and all the way into the back of the net. New signing Melissa Regmi was given a chance to impress as she came on with 15’ to play. The forward was signed from Forfar Farmington but came through the ranks at Aberdeen. Tanna Hollis nearly put the game to bed seconds after her introduction. She crept past Black and Ferguson on the six-yard line adding a deft touch which trickled unto the post and nearly back in. The game concluded with Spartans continuing to create while the Dons struggled to find that moment of quality to get them back in the tie. Full Time Aberdeen 0– 2 Spartans Nathan Flight Reaction “We knew what Spartans were going to come with and how they were going to play and to give away a goal so early in the game is not ideal. “We had to reset, not forget the gameplan and continue working with the way that we’d plan to win the game, and I think we did that. “For us, it was about seeing how we can stand up physically and compete with a team who did a terrific job last season to win SWPL 2. “You’ve got to run, you’ve got to sprint, you’ve got to challenge. We just lacked that and we’ve lacked that throughout the League Cup so far. “We play the champions next week which will not be an easy task. So we definitely need to handle that situation much, much better. “For us, we want to work to be the best that we can. We want to work on the performance first and foremost, because you believe if we get the performances correct, that can set us up well to go and get good results." STATS: Aberdeen: O’Hanlon (GK), Black, Carrol (Colquhoun 83’), Lea, Walsh, Daniel (Regmi 73’), Finnie ©, Buchan (Selbie 45’), Watt, Skinner (Ferguson 60’), Mayhew (Reid 60’) Subs: Signorini, Selbie, Regmi, Ferguson, Reid, Colquhoun Bookings: Black 41’ Spartans : Yates (GK), Cunningham, McCafferty ©, Cadell (Murchie 66’), Hurrell (Davies 88’), Noble, Brien (McDonald 66’), Reynolds, Young, Bandura (Hollis 78’), Hutchinson (Eadie 78) Subs: Hensel-Burg, McMurdo, Andrews, Murchie, Davies, McDonald, Eadie, Hollis Goals: 57’ Noble Bookings: Brien 9’