After the disappointment of crashing out of the UEFA Women’s Cup last weekend, Hibernian Ladies looked to bounce back in the best possible fashion with victory against Edinburgh Ladies at St. Marks Park on Sunday. A rousing second half performance was produced by the girls to blow away their city rivals and send a message of intent to the rest of the SWPL.

It had been a busy pre-season for the club with tough friendly matches, European football and also a change in the management as Paul and Iain Johnstone stepped aside to make way for Maggie Wilson to take over with Shelley Kerr taking up the roll of player/coach. Wilson had previously managed the now defunct Guillianos.

Sunday also marked the perfect opportunity for Hibernian to gain revenge for their only defeat last season when Edinburgh Ladies beat them in the final of the Premier League Cup. When the sides were paired together in the first round of the same competition this season, it was all the motivation Hibs needed and they were determined to ensure history did not repeat itself.

 The game started at a frantic pace with all the ferocity of a proper derby match, Edinburgh set their stall out early to frustrate Hibernian by flooding the midfield as they lined up in a 3-5-2 formation. Hibs were looking for an early goal and could have gone in front in the opening minutes as Shelley Kerr found the run of Kim Little and her first time effort went narrowly wide of goal.

Hibernian dominated the early stages but found the Edinburgh defence difficult to penetrate as time and again they repelled the Hibees attacks. Edinburgh though were always dangerous and the strike force of Debbie McWhinnie and Diana Barry carried a potent threat to the Hibernian rearguard of Stacey Cook, Shelley Kerr and Suzanne Robertson who marshalled them well..

Midway through the first half Hibernian won a corner kick and from it Julie Ferguson got a touch to Pauline Hamill’s cross only for the Edinburgh goalkeeper to pull off a fingertip save to defy Hibs. Hibernian were dominating but against the run of play the hosts were to take the lead when a driven cross into the box was fired into the Hibs net by former player Louise Young to put Edinburgh in front. Hibs tried to respond quickly with both Pauline Hamill and Kim Little going close with free kicks but they just could not force an equaliser.

Things got worse for Hibs just five minutes later when Stacey Cook was adjudged to have fouled Debbie McWhinnie in the penalty area and the referee immediately awarded a spot kick to Edinburgh that was duly converted to put the home side two goals in front. Hibs needed to get back into the game quickly and they did so when Julie Ferguson won possession in midfield and found Pauline Hamill, the striker picked out Kim Little who made no mistake with a first time shot that gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Hibs could have been level two minutes later when Natalie Ross drove in from a wide right position and found the run of Pauline Hamill coming in off the left wing and the striker took the ball around her marker before shooting just wide. The first half ended with Hibernian pushing for an equaliser and Edinburgh on the back foot.

Half Time: Edinburgh Ladies 2 Hibernian Ladies 1

The second half started just as the first had ended with Hibs dominating and the partnership of Suzanne Grant and Kim Little causing Edinburgh all sorts of problems. The equaliser Hibs were desperate for arrived when Kim Little won a free kick on the edge of the penalty box, Pauline Hamill whipped in a perfect cross for Shelley Kerr to powerfully send a header past the Edinburgh goalkeeper and level the game.

 Hibernian were level and the confidence was flowing, within five minutes of Kerr’s goal they were in front as Suzanne Grant peeled off her marker and slotted the ball past the stranded Edinburgh goalkeeper. It was no more than Hibs deserved and Edinburgh were left shell shocked. The Hibees continued to turn the screw and scored a fourth as Kim Little grabbed her second of the game.

Soon after Kim Little completed her hat-trick as she raced past the Edinburgh defence before rounding the goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball into the empty net. The youngster continuing to show the devastating form that saw her claim 56 goals last season as she forced her way into the full International side at the tender age of just 16.

Midway through the half, Joelle Murray replaced Julie Ferguson as Hibernian continued to go for yet more goals and they duly arrived as Shelley Kerr headed her second goal of the game from a Kim Little set piece. Hibs brought on yet more striking options in the shape of Laura Kennedy and Kirsty McBride as they continued to attack the Edinburgh goal relentlessly. The final goal of the match came when Mandy Burns volleyed a Pauline Hamill cross into the back of the net for goal number seven.

In the end it was a devastating second half performance by the defending champions who, once they had gained momentum were unstoppable. Edinburgh had marshalled Hibs well in the first half, denying the Easter Road side space to play in but once Hibernian got their noses in front there was only ever going to be one winner.

Full Time: Edinburgh Ladies 2 Hibernian Ladies 7

Hibernian Ladies: Gemma Faye, Suzanne Robertson, Shelley Kerr, Stacey Cook,
Frankie Brown, Natalie Ross, Julie Ferguson, Mandy Burns, Pauline Hamill, Kim Little, Suzanne Grant. Subs: Laura Kennedy, Joanna Hutcheson, Alison Donnelly, Joelle Murray, Kirsty McBride and Marlene Pearson.

Afterwards Midfielder Julie Ferguson was naturally elated with her sides performance, she said: ”We were delighted with the win following our disappointed of not qualifying in Europe, we wanted to come back to Scotland and prove that we are still the team to beat and I think we proved it today. We know that we will have another tough game against Edinburgh on Wednesday but hopefully if we can produce the sort of second half performance we showed today we can get another result.”

Despite the change in Management at the club Julie and the rest of the girls are determined to continue to progress as a team by sticking together and fighting for each other, she commented: ”It was great to get a win for the new management team and hopefully the first of many under them. The team is so together just now and we know that we have to stay together if we want to retain our league title.”

Richard Payne

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