SPARTANS FOOTBALL CLUB


 

                                   

Match Reports :-

ABERDEEN v HIBERNIAN - S.W.P.L. - Sunday 31st. August 2008

Dons Record Win

Aberdeen 1 – Hibernian 0
 
Aberdeen recorded their first ever win over longstanding Premier League pacesetters Hibernian on Sunday, with a hard fought victory over the Edinburgh side. Both teams lost a number of key players in the summer but the visitors still fielded a number of full internationalists at Lochside Park.
 
Hibernian pushed early earning  a corner in the third minute which was sent too long and cleared of danger by Campbell. The Dons then had a spell of pressure, Taylor seeking out Wright but the move broke down. End to end stuff as Kennedy sought out Cowan at the back post, Fitzpatrick for the Reds shepherding the ball away before breaking forward and playing in Martin who was intercepted.
 
Hibs put a long shot onto the bar at the other end, the rebound cleared by Aberdeen captain Hamill who then picked up a loose ball, twisted, turned and found Martin on the left who crossed into S. Scott but Hib’s Thomson closed her down.
 
Hibs were driving forward well, their midfield funnelling into the box but the home side were working hard at this point, the well organised back four supported by runs back to help from the midfield.
 
Kennedy and Cowan were combining well for Hibs to pass the ball through midfield but the Aberdeen defence worked hard to close down the attacks. Hibs had a clear chance from a corner which keeper Johnstone parried, Kennedy and Cowan rushed in but Taylor blocked then cleared. Aberdeen went ahead on 41 minutes, Wright battling well to get on the end of a long ball forward. She cut inside and as Hibs and Scotland keeper Faye advanced, slipped a pass to DJAHANSOUZI who tapped in from close range for Aberdeen to finish the half on top.
 
Half Time Aberdeen 1 – Hibernian 0
 
Murray replaced Djahansouzi at half time as the Hibees came out fighting, eventually forcing P.Scott to concede a corner which was wasted, played out over the goal line.
 
The Reds were nearly caught napping as another corner was taken short and quickly to Cowan but the defence recovered, rushing out to snuff out the danger. Aberdeen broke forward a couple of times via Martin but both times her crosses went too close to keeper Faye who collected. A ball forward from Hibs to Scotland striker Grant allowed her to charge into the penalty box shadowed by Small and keeper Johnson pulled off a save at point blank range to keep the Dons ahead.
 
Again Aberdeen attacked, Hamill first finding Martin on the left, she cut in and tried a shot which Faye saved at the near post.  Hamill again brought in Wright on the other wing but as she took aim the ball was taken off her then Fitzpatrick tried to chip the keeper but went too high.
 
With 15 minutes to go Waite replaced S.Scott up front and on almost her first touch sent a shot in low which Faye did well to stop.
 
A let off for the Dons as a parried shot fell to Burns in the 6 yard box, Hamill threw herself in front of Burns’ first shot then Taylor blocked the second attempt before it was hussled away. Hibs were now pressing hard looking for an equaliser and leaving gaps at the back. A chance for Aberdeen as a Martin cross was met by both Wright and Waite but Faye again showed her class, getting just enough of a touch to spoil the strike. Waite was unlucky again, pouncing on an error by Cook as she passed back to keeper Faye. She failed to see Waite rushing in and again Faye stopped a hard shot at close range.
 
Aberdeen ended the match with their backs against the wall against a team used to winning and determined to take something from the game but the Dons held firm against the onslaught to pick up a deserved 3 points.

Aberdeen Team :-

Kandy Johnston. Loren Campbell, Jenni Taylor, Rachel Small, Paula Scott, Nikki Wright (Kirsty Mackenzie), Rachel Hamill, Chloe Fitzpatrick, Neda Djahansouzi (Susan Murray), Sharon Scott (Angela Waite).

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Ladies lose out

Hibernian Ladies indifferent start to the season continued last Sunday when they were narrowly beaten by Aberdeen at Lochside Park. The defeat was hard to take for the Hibernian side who put so much into the game but never got the breaks they deserved due in part to sloppy finishing and determined defending by the Dons, who claimed their first ever victory over the Edinburgh side.

Hibs started well in the opening minutes, penning Aberdeen back and striking the crossbar but their early pressure did not provide them with the first goal. Gradually the Dons came more into the game and the play raged from end-to-end with Hibernian going close again when Kennedy tried to pick out Cowan at the back post only for Fitzpatrick to clear for the home side.
Hibernian once again struck the woodwork when a shot from distance smashed off the crossbar and rebounded to safety for Aberdeen. Over the years the two teams have fought out many close encounters and this was no different with the home side working very hard to thwart the League and Scottish Cup holders.

Taylor came to the rescue of Aberdeen when she cleared the ball after Johnstone had spilled a corner kick into a crowded penalty area, with Kennedy and Cowan looking to pounce on the mistake the defender was well positioned to first block and then clear the danger. Hibs were hit by a sucker punch just minutes from half time when Wright raced onto a long ball forward and with goalkeeper Faye rushing out to close her down, she slipped the ball to Djahansouzi who tapped it into the unguarded net from close range.

Hibernian returned for the second period in a determined mood, but Aberdeen were as resilient as ever and ready to fight for every ball. The home team were happy to soak up the pressure from the Edinburgh girls and attempt to strike on the counter, and they could have gone further ahead had so many of the crosses not been played so closely to Scotland and Hibernian goalkeeper Gemma Faye. Hibernian were dealt a blow when Murray took a knock to the head and she had to be taken off and sent to hospital.

A shot from Suzanne Grant brought out a fine save from Johnston as Hibernian kept the pressure on the Dons but it was far from all one way with former Hibernian player Ham ill a constant thorn in their side. First she created a chance for Martin that brought out a good save from Faye, before giving Wright the chance to shot on the other wing, but the effort was blocked.
It seemed that luck was not on Hibs side and when Johnstone parried an effort to Burns just six yards out she seemed certain to score only for Ham ill block her shot, throwing herself at the ball to keep it out before Taylor blocked the rebound to the frustration of the visitors who must have wondered what they had to do to score.

With the Edinburgh side pouring forward at every opportunity in search of a deserved equaliser, gaps began to open up at the back and Aberdeen were keen to exploit them. Faye had to be at her international best to keep out strikes by Wright and substitute Waite and stop her team falling further behind. Hibs pushed hard for an equaliser but Aberdeen stood firm to collect the points and create a little bit of history.

Aberdeen Ladies: Johnston, Campbell, Taylor, Small, Scott, Wright, Ham ill, Fitzpatrick, Djahansouzi, Scott. Subs: Mackenzie, Murray, Waite.

Hibernian Ladies: Faye, Kaney, Thomson, Cook, Burns, Murray, McBride, Cowan, Kennedy, Grant, Donnelly.

On Sunday Hibernian Ladies face Celtic Ladies at the Hibernian Training Centre (3.30pm kick off) in a crunch encounter that could go a long way to determining this seasons champions. The emergence of Celtic in the Ladies game in recent years, added to the number of ex-Hibernian players in their ranks, ensures this will be a keenly fought match.

Richard Payne