THREE points at Hampden on Friday night put Scotland temporarily on top of Group B, but realistically the aim must be to ensure finishing second behind Spain and hope to qualify for the 2023 World Cup through the play-offs.

That being the case, Rachel Corsie's 90th minute winner was invaluable, even if providing a tough ending for a well organised, hard-working and streetwise Hungarian side. It was probably no coincidence that they conceded their goals as they tired near the end of each 45 minute period – and Spain putting seven past them without reply in Budapest tells you all you need to know about the quality of the top seeds.

Corsie's goal has eliminated Hungary from the equation, which means next month's home game against Ukraine and the return in April are the ones which really matter. Scotland comfortably beat the third seeds 3-0 in the Pinatar Cup early last year, but performances since the pandemic struck have taken a significant dip.

That may appear contradictory given the Hungary result made it five straight wins since losing to Portugal in February. Nevertheless, all have been against much lower ranked teams and a more realistic assessment can be made after Tuesday's friendly against world second ranked Sweden in Paisley.

For all the talk about playing a possession-based game, both Scotland's goals at Hampden followed high balls into the box – the first from a Nicola Docherty cross and Christy Grimshaw being in the right place to take advantage of a Hungarian defensive lapse. Corsie's was indirectly from an Erin Cuthbert corner.

The one goal that did – inadvertently – come from passing football was Hungary's. A Docherty throw-in midway inside the Scotland half led to nine consecutive passes involving eight players in the home side. The only ones not involved were Grimshaw, Clare Emslie and Jane Ross.

The final, misplaced, pass was from Docherty, and a rapid three player combination delivered Fanni Vago's equaliser. The execution was very different, but the manner of the build-up, involving much Scotland back passing, was all too reminiscent of the first goal gift-wrapped to Portugal in February.

SCOTTISH Women's Football issued a statement on Thursday which elevated fence sitting to an art form. It was in relation to comments on social media that a player from a named Championship South team is transgender.

That has been confirmed as being the case. Some players in the league are understood to be concerned about the safety aspect.

This is a sensitive issue, hence presumably why the SWF's holding position is to be all things to all people. They already have guidelines for transgender players, and will doubtless be checking whether the necessary protocols have been followed by the named club.

These 2019 guidelines, however, are already out of date. The scientific evidence that biological men who have gone through puberty continue to enjoy strength and power advantages over natal women – regardless of testosterone suppression – is finally now being acknowledged and accepted.

The IOC, who allowed former male weightlifter Laurel Hubbard to compete for medals in the women's category at the Tokyo Olympics, are revisiting that policy. And closer to home the UK Sports Councils, including sportscotland, issued new guidelines last month which make clear that transgender inclusion and fairness/safety are not compatible in contact sports such as football.

Thursday's fence sitting was perhaps understandable, but – and sooner rather than later – SWF, and the Scottish FA who wrote the 2019 guidelines, will have to take cognisance of the new advice. The key word in SWF is the middle one.

THERE are now separate SWPL 1 and 2 player of the month awards, with the September winners being Colette Cavanagh (Hibernian) and Rachel Todd (Dundee Utd).

One of Cavanagh's rivals for the award was Celtic's Charlie Wellings, who saved her side from a very damaging home defeat to Spartans last Sunday. The English striker scored the equaliser in time added on – just as she had scored an extra time winner against Cavanagh's Hibs at the same stadium three weeks earlier.

Ironically, it was midfielder Cavanagh's opportunistic long range strike midway through the second half which almost won Hibs a point. Collecting the player of the month award ahead of Wellings won't change that outcome, but it does bring the midfielder a large measure of well-deserved recognition.

Cavanagh is the first player to have won the award at two different clubs, as she also won it with Celtic in May, 2018. Congratulations also to former St Johnstone midfielder Todd, who is playing a big part in United's title push.