Forfar Farmington’s hopes of staying in the top tier of the Scottish Women’s Premier League took a blow with a 1-0 defeat to rivals Stirling University.
Rachel Donaldson’s fourth minute goal was the difference between the sides with Forfar throwing everything at Stirling in the second half to no avail.
The result means Forfar are still four points behind Aberdeen in the league however Stirling are now ten points ahead, all but securing their safety.
Two changes were made to the defeat to Rangers the previous week; Beth Shillitto and Jade McLaren making way for Robyn Smith and Sophie Milligan.
Stirling took the lead just four minutes in to the match when Rachel Donaldson rose to meet Beth McKay’s corner and powered her header past McNicoll.
The hosts looked to be on top in the opening stages of the game and almost added a second in the 17th minute when Donaldson rounded the keeper with McNicoll suffering an injury at the same time; Gemma Collier did well to clear the ball off the line.
Mark Nisbet’s side had their first chance after half an hour and were unlucky not to be level when Sophie Milligan’s cross found Louise Magilton; she created space inside the box but saw her shot saved with the rebound from Deans deflected into Logan’s arms.
Shortly after the hosts forced a great save from McNicoll when McKay set up Ashley McDonald, her shot was tipped over by the keeper.
Farmington had another great opportunity to level things five minutes before the break after Julia Scott’s through ball allowed Robyn Smith to get a shot away but Logan denied her with a fantastic block.
The visitors started the second half with intent and put Stirling under pressure straight away, Nicola Davidson first to have a go from 20 yards but her shot flew inches past the post.
Stirling seemed happy to allow the pressure and their defence were doing well to cope with the Farmington attack with chances few and far between in the middle of the second half.
In the 70th minute Kirsty Deans flicked on a Jade McLaren cross for the unmarked Magilton but the unmarked player couldn’t keep her effort down and fired over.
Eight minutes later Nicola Davidson set up Lindsey Dunbar with a free kick however the midfielder sent her shot over the bar.
Donaldson almost added a second for the hosts in the 85th minute with McNicoll tipping her top corner bound effort wide.
In injury time Farmington looked to grab an equaliser with a couple of corners from Scott but the hosts’ defence held firm as they took all three points.
Fiona McNicoll, Sophie Milligan (Beth Shillitto 70), Louise Magilton, Holly Napier, Nicola Davidson, Gemma Collier, Kirsty Deans, Megan McCarthy, Julia Scott, Robyn Smith (Jade McLaren 51), Ann Taylor (Lindsey Dunbar 64)
Sub not used: Erin Cattanach.