Ladies back to winning ways

With Glasgow City contesting the Premier League Cup final with Spartans on Saturday, Hibernian Ladies victory against Kilmarnock allowed the Easter Road side to leapfrog the champions and move into third spot.

Games against Kilmarnock in recent seasons have been very difficult encounters and this one would prove to be no different. The match was played on the artificial pitch at the Hibernian Training Centre but the surface could do little to prevent gusty winds giving the teams a number of problems during the 90 minutes.

From the kick off Hibernian looked to take the game to Killie and certainly had the better of the early play as they passed the ball around well and created openings without making the breakthrough. Hibs were enjoying a lot of possession in the wide areas with Joelle Murray and Suzanne Grant looking particularly lively and causing Kilmarnock a number of problems.

Hibernian should have opened the scoring with the first real clear cut chance of the game when Joelle Murray picked out Laura Kennedy with a fantastic cross but the striker managed to fire wide when it appeared easier to score. Soon after Hibs created another fine chance and once more it came from another excellent cross from Joelle Murray, however this time it was Hayley Cunningham on the end of it but it was the same outcome as she narrowly missed with a close range header.

Hibs continued to put Killie under pressure and they had another fantastic opportunity to make the breakthrough when midway through the first half Mandy Burns was left with only the goalkeeper to beat, and despite taking the ball around the shot stopper she was too wide to squeeze the ball in from a tight angle.

Having dominated the game so far without managing to find the net frustration began to creep into Hibs play, but they eventually made the breakthrough when Laura Kennedy turned a Joelle Murray cross from the right into the net. The frustration at once lifted from the shoulders of the Hibs players and they doubled their advantage when Mandy Burns scored a stunning second goal from fully 35 yards.

It was looking good for Hibernian but one minute from half time Kilmarnock pulled a goal back from a free kick, a shot that left the goalkeeper no chance and nestled in the top corner of the net. Into the second half and the wind continued to cause problems for the two teams which did not help the standard of football on show.

Hibs continued to pour forward at every opportunity and at times they looked likely to completely over-run their opponents. Twice the home side hit the woodwork before they eventually grabbed a third goal - Hayley Cunningham played a fantastic ball over the head of the Killie full back for Joelle Murray, the midfielder once more produced a fantastic delivery and Laura Kennedy turned her cross into the back of the net for her second of the game.

The game looked beyond the visitors but shortly after Hibs third goal, the Edinburgh side were reduced to ten players when Stacey Cook was red carded after picking up her second yellow of the afternoon. That gave Kilmarnock the lift they needed and they pulled a goal back and ensured it was a backs to the wall display for the remainder of the game for the Hibs girls. The Hibernian defence stood firm and they held on to claim a deserved victory, but the win should have been a lot more comfortable than it was.

Hibernian Ladies are at home again this weekend when they take on Raith Rovers Ladies at Broxburn, kick off 2pm.

Richard Payne - Report 

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