Hibs Ladies' Dominance Ends

Glasgow City have broken Hibernian Ladies stranglehold on Women’s football in Scotland by clinching the Premier League title. The two sides clashed on Sunday at Glasgow Green with Hibernian knowing they must take all three points if they were to have any hope of overtaking City at the top of the league but a goal in each half was enough to see off the Hibees challenge.

With so much at stake for the teams it was no surprise that they both looked nervous throughout this encounter. Hibernian had survived two early penalty kick appeals from City for handball – much to the outrage of the home bench as they were both waved away by the referee.

Hibs did finally get themselves into the game and had the better of the play without really creating too many chances and when a goal did come it went against them. Jane Ross did well on the wing and her near post cross evaded everyone and caught out the goalkeeper to give City a crucial breakthrough.

Early into the second half Glasgow City were reduced to ten players when Emma Fernon was red carded, giving Hibernian the numerical advantage to push for an equaliser. The was a huge slice of luck for Hibernian when the referee missed an off the ball incident involving Mandy Burns, the midfielder lifting her hands to City’s Leeanne Campbell and was extremely fortunate to escape punishment.

 Hibernian did manage to equalise soon after but the afternoon, and indeed the title, belonged to City and they restored their lead through a Ruesha Littlejohn goal. Hibs tried to push for a second equalising goal but City held out for victory, leaving the Edinburgh side devastated to see their treble dreams shattered.

It has been a long and hectic season for Hibernian with girls playing many more competitive games than anyone else in Scotland. Prolonged involvement in the Women’s UEFA Cup, Premier League Cup, Scottish Cup and of course the SWPL, have left Hibs small squad shattered and running out of steam at a crucial time in the season.

It is not all over yet though and the fixtures continue to come thick and fast for Hibs as they face Queen’s Park on Friday evening before completing their season with a visit to Vale of Clyde on Sunday. Before then the majority of the Hibernian squad are involved for the national side when Scotland face Ukraine on Wednesday evening at McDiarmid Park.

Richard Payne


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City are Scottish Champions

Glasgow City were crowned Premier League champions today following their 2-1 win over Hibernian.

With so much at stake for both sides, this was always going to be a nervous affair. City however started strongly, putting pressure on the Hibs rearguard, but to their dismay saw two hand balls in the Hibernian box waved away by the referee.

Hibs then started to exert their own influence on the game and the match became pretty even, but with few clear chances for either side. City did however make the breakthrough when good wing play from forward Jane Ross saw her near post cross evade everyone and end up in the back of the Hibs net.

The second half started brightly, however only ten minutes into the second period City full back Emma Fernon was red carded in one of the most dubious decisions of the season. Reduced to ten players, this was going to be a hard second half for the City girls.

The game hit another flashpoint when Hibernian’s Mandy Burns appeared to completely take out City’s Leeanne Campbell off the ball. With the entire crowd and players having seen what happened, Burns had the last laugh, as the officials decided they had all missed the entire incident.

With Campbell off injured along with City’s Megan Sneddon, play resumed with both players waiting to be allowed back onto the pitch. Hibernian took full advantage of City having only 8 players on the field as the broke quickly forward, scoring from the area vacated by Campbell.

The frustration felt by the City players was clear to see, but they dug in deep and got the deserved winner, when a fantastic turn and curling shot from striker Ruesha Littlejohn flew into the back of the Hibernian net making it 2-1 for City.

Three points against Hibernian means that no matter what happens next week, City cannot be caught. They are the Scottish Premier League champions.