| EDINBURGH LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB |
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Edinburgh LFC v Hibernian LFC - Sunday 1st. April 2007
Edinburgh v Hibernian 0 - 1HIBERNIAN MAINTAIN POLE POSITIONHibs maintained their league lead with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Edinburgh. It took until the second half before Joelle Murray scored for the visitors - who then had one player sent off. “It was a very even first half,” says Hibs boss Iain Johnston.
“After we took the lead I felt we were comfortable but then we lost a player and the game seemed to peter out".
“But you’ve got to be happy with three points and a clean sheet against a hard-working team.”
Edinburgh boss Carson Ralton wasn’t downhearted.
“I thought we played very well.” he says. “With four of our first 11 missing we had to bring in some fringe players and they did really well. It was a close game.”
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Ladies close call
Hibernian had revenge in mind when they faced Edinburgh Ladies on Sunday after their city rivals defeated the much fancied Hibees in the Premier League Cup Final last November. Debbie McDonald, Shelley Grant and Louise Young dropped to the bench and were replaced by Laura Kennedy and new signings Jo Hutcheson and Shelley Kerr.
From kick off Hibs were fired up and some meaty challenges from Mandy Burns and Julie Ferguson showed Edinburgh the Hibees meant business as they set the tone for the rest of the game. Hibs were pressing Edinburgh high up the field and not giving their opponents any time on the ball as they closed them down quickly. The first chance of the game fell for Hibernian with Suzanne Grant firing a shot just wide of the post. Hibs continued to create chances with Kim Little driving forward from midfield and hitting a low shot that was saved by the Edinburgh goalkeeper.
In recent weeks Hibs had looked short of pace at the back with Edinburgh looking to use the speed of Debbie McWhinnie whilst trying to find space in behind the Hibernian defence, but they found Stacey Cook, Shelley Kerr and Suzy Robertson in resilient form. Hibs continued to go forward and a blistering run from Stacey Cook saw her play the ball to Suzanne Grant who played her back in with a fine pass, the defender hitting a low drive that just went wide of the post.
One of the best chances of the half fell to Kim Little, the ball was played in to her from wide by Suzanne Grant and she took the ball on her chest before a last gasp challenge from an Edinburgh defender denied her an opportunity to pull the trigger. Five minutes later Laura Kennedy sent a cross into the box that flew over the head of the Edinburgh keeper to find Kirsty McBride who stole away at the back post but with an open goal at her mercy the Hibs forward could only send the ball agonisingly over the cross bar.
Edinburgh then raced up the field to create their best chance of the game so far as a rushed ball from Stacey Cook fell to the feet of Edinburgh Midfielder Leanne Chrichton who found the feet of Diana Barry. She put the ball back to Chrichton with a nice pass and Hutcheson came rushing out to narrow the angle the Edinburgh player screwed her shot wide as the half ended goalless.
Half Time: Edinburgh Ladies 0 Hibernian Ladies 0
Hibernian returned after the break determined to take the three points and they were soon on the attack as a ball from Mandy Burns found the run of Kirsty McBride, she outran her marker and found space at the back post for a shot that was well saved by the Edinburgh goalkeeper. Edinburgh didn’t make the game easy and the threat of McWhinnie and Barry was always apparent however, they found the task of getting past Hutcheson too much.
The breakthrough for Hibs came midway through the second half, Kim Little’s shot was pushed out for a corner and from this a ball in from Kirsty McBride found Kim Little on the edge of the box. She sent the ball back into a crowded penalty area and her pass was met by the boot of Joelle Murray who fired the ball into the net and Hibs into the lead. Hibernian seemed in control then disaster struck as Burns was fouled on the edge of the box but her frustration at not being awarded the free kick saw her make comments to the referee which he did not like and produced a very harsh red card. So for the last twenty minutes Hibernian played with a player down but everyone continued to defend and press the ball.
Former Hibee Debbie McWhinnie came close with a shot from the edge of the box but again Hutcheson gathered the ball well. Edinburgh did claim for a penalty late on in the game for a challenge on Diana Barry, but Stacey Cook had timed her challenge perfectly. Shelley Grant came on late in the game as Hibs switched to a 4-4-1 formation determined to hold onto the win. The Hibees managing to see out the rest of the game for a well deserved victory.
Full Time: Edinburgh Ladies 0 Hibernian Ladies 1
Hibernian Ladies: Jo Hutcheson, Shelley Kerr, Stacey Cook, Suzy Robertson, Kirsty McBride, Joelle Murray, Mandy Burns, Julie Ferguson, Kim Little, Laura Kennedy, Suzanne Grant. Subs: Louise Young, Shelley Grant, Alison Donnelly, Debbie McDonald, Frankie Brown.
Afterwards Julie Ferguson commented: "To be honest we pretty much dominated the game. We were fired up for the game due the defeat in the League Cup Final and we needed no motivation. The conditions weren’t great and the pitch was dry and bumpy but we still managed to play some good football. It was pleasingly that the whole team defended and worked together for the ninety minutes we tackled, battled and pressed the game.”
Julie was full of praise for her new teammates, she said: "You would have thought we were a different team today we defended so well. The debuts for Kerr and Hutcheson was particularly pleasing there influence was immediate especially the experience of Kerr, all in all a difficult game against a good hard working team. The sending off was a key decision, its difficult enough to play with eleven never mind ten. The decision that was very, very harsh."