Staggies Women suffer defeat at Grampian.

Ross County Women’s SWFL North title hopes took a major hit on Sunday afternoon as they suffered a shock 5-1 loss away at Grampian.

Played at Banks O’Dee’s Spain Park, It was Grampian who opened the scoring through former Montrose forward Aimee Ridgway, who once scored 70 goals in a single season.

It was 2-0 shortly before half time when Lauren Boylan doubled Grampian’s advantage, and Ridgeway made it 3-0 almost immediately after the restart.

Things went from bad to worse for County when Rhianna Law found the net in the 65th minute to score the home side’s fourth.

Abi Coltherd would pull one back for the Highlanders around 10 minutes before the end, but Grampian would add a fifth in stoppage time through Kirsty McMahon.

The loss means County remain on 27 points after their 11th match, and they still sit at the top of the league table on goal difference.

However, others are now breathing down their necks.

Arbroath and Grampian are also on 27 points, in their cases after 12 matches, as is Elgin City who will now consider themselves strong title favourites with two games in hand over County.

Away from the senior first team, there was more news coming out of the club as it was confirmed they will not be defending their Highlands and Islands League title.

County had entered the division for the first time in 2024 as something of a stepping stone, giving players their first senior experience in the summer league ahead of entering the SWF pyramid for the first time.

They rose to the challenge spectacularly, winning the title on the last day of the season in a dramatic winners-take-all clash with 2023 champions Buckie, where Reese Flaws scored the decisive goal.

The intention had been for County to field a second, development senior team in the competition going forward, but a lack of numbers mean that they will drop out for the time being – with plans to return once the next group of under-18 players age out of that cohort.