Match: Aberdeen v Spartans Date: Sunday 4th December Venue: Balmoral Stadium Kick-Off: 4.00pm Competition: SWPL1

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AFC Women are in action on Sunday, in their final home game before the winter break, as they welcome Spartans to the Balmoral Stadium. It is another massive game for the team as they look to pull themselves up the table and build on the 2-1 win over Dundee United last week.

To preview the match this weekend, striker Bayley Hutchison, who netted twice at Tannadice, spoke to RedTV. Bayley admitted it has been a tough week for the side after the resignation of Co-Managers Emma Hunter and Gavin Beith. The young striker, like many of the players, has worked with Emma for most of her career up to this point.

“The first couple of days were quite hard for everyone, just to take it all in.

“Emma and Gavin have been amazing for the players and the club, they have done so much. We had to get over it though and then focus on what is a massive game on Sunday. We have had a good week at training, and everyone is now focussed on the match and hopefully getting another three points so we can start to move up the table.

“To get the win in the first place on Sunday was great, even more enjoyable with the game being at Tannadice. It was a very welcome three points. We are not in the position that we thought we would be in at this stage of the season, but another win on Sunday would put us back in amongst the pack and we would be able to enjoy our Christmas a little bit more.

“Scoring goals brings confidence to my game, so getting two was a big boost to me personally. Hopefully I can now kick on from this point and get more goals so I am contributing more to help the team. But at the end of the day, the team winning three points is more important thing, it does not matter who scores as long we win the game.

“Spartans are a good side. We know exactly what we are going into when we come up against them. I think the two sides are quite well matched so it will be hard, and it will be all about who has got the biggest fight in them and who wants it more. I am confident we will put in a positive performance and hopefully we can get the win.

“It will be nice to get back to our home at the Balmoral Stadium. Our record there is good, and I think it gives us an advantage. We are used to the conditions. Hopefully there will be a good turnout on Sunday.”

Gavin Levey will be in the dugout on Sunday as care-taker manager. The Academy Director leads an interim coaching team which includes AFCW coach Claire Garrett, Youth Academy coaches Mark Emslie and Matthew Mackie, and Head of Academy Performance, Kevin Symon.

“Whilst it was obviously sad to see Emma and Gavin step down from their roles, at the same time the team got that big win last Sunday that they were eagerly awaiting and were due. Especially in the fashion that it came, with the late winner. It was also great to see Bayley scoring twice and hopefully she can continue that scoring run.

“We have to look forward now to what is ahead and the girls have trained really well this week.

“We have been honest and upfront with the team. Both myself as Academy Director and Steven Gunn as Director of Football, we spoke to the players ahead of last Sunday and said professionally and out of respect for the staff you have got to go out and give your best possible performance. And they did that. I am sure the staff wanted to finish on a high and there is no better place to have done it, in a stadium on another massive occasion for women’s football in Scotland. It is great the team have been able to play in a few stadiums already this season.

“The squad all came together well and having watched the performance back, you could see that it was emotional at the end of the game and rightly so. The staff have achieved a lot here, Emma in particular has been here from start since we took this project on – in developing a women’s team here at Aberdeen which has come to the stage now where we have young professional players. It was the perfect way for them to step down and what they deserved.

“I think Sunday will be a very tough game.

“We have seen some good games against Spartans over the past few seasons. We have studied the opposition to give us the best preparation that we can and to make sure we are ready.

“The Spartans manager Debbie McCulloch will have the team very well set up. She is very passionate about her role. I have known Debbi for a very long time and I, along with the coaching team, looking forward to coming up against her and her Spartans side.

Previous Games between AFC Women and Spartans

Scottish Cup 3rd Round | 11/08/2019 Spartans 1 Aberdeen 2 Aberdeen: Blanchard, O’Riordan, Campbell, Doig, Bruce, Shore, Gover, Gordon (Phillips 69), Fraser, Hutchison, Ogilvie.

SWPL 1 | 26/09/2021 Spartans 0 Aberdeen 0 Aberdeen: Gilmour, Campbell, Penman, Broadrick (Gover 68) Doig, Shore, Collins, Fraser (Gordon 58′), Paterson, Thomson, Brown (Sopel 80).

SWPL 1 | 16/01/2022 Aberdeen 2 Spartans 3 Aberdeen: Meach, Sopel (Collins 64), Paterson, Broadrick, Gover (Fraser 84′), Bruce (Brown 73), Shore, Forrest, Thomson, Hutchison, Ogilvie.

Scottish Cup 4th Round | 13/02/2022 Aberdeen 4 Spartans 2 Aberdeen: Meach, Campbell, Forrest, Broadrick, Paterson, Ogilvie (Innes 91), Shore, Gover, Thomson, (Stewart 68), Hutchison, Collins.

SWPL 1 | 27/03/2022 Aberdeen 1 Spartans 1 Aberdeen: Meach, Campbell, Forrest (Sopel 86), Broadrick, Innes, Thomson, Shore, Gover, Stewart (Brown 46), Hutchison, Collins.

SWPL 1 | 18/09/2022 Spartans 2 Aberdeen 0 Aberdeen: Meach, Campbell, Urqhuart, Broadrick, Shore, Hutchison, Collins (Gordon 78′), Stewart (Gover 61′), Ogilvie, Finnie, Thomson.

Match programme | available at the ground on Sunday at the turnstiles, the AFC Women’s programmes this season can also be purchased online by clicking here