Hibernian Ladies 1  Spartans FC 3

Hibernian Ladies frustrating form this season continued again yesterday as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat at home to Spartans. Despite dominating their City rivals for long spells in the game, Hibernian were made to rue a series of missed chances while Spartans were clinical in front of goal – recording their second win over Hibs in a week.

Hibs boss Jimmy Burns named an unchanged side from their midweek cup exit against the same opponents, and it was the home team that got the game underway. Hibernian looked for a quick breakthrough and put their opponents under a tremendous amount of pressure in the opening minutes with their slick passing and quick, probing attacks.

Yet it was Spartans who created the first chance of the afternoon when former Hibernian coach Kerr curled a fine free kick from distance that ended up just inches wide of goal. Hibernian should have opened the scoring in only 6 minutes when a fantastic ball from Burns split the Spartans defence and put Murray clean through - but the midfielder took a heavy first touch and that allowed goalkeeper Hutcheson to block.

It seemed only a matter of time before Hibernian made the breakthrough but against the run of play Spartans opened the scoring. There appeared to be no danger from a fairly routine cross from the right when it feel to the feet of Brown but the clearance was poor and landed at the feet of former Hibs striker Barry who wasted no time in smashing a left foot shot beyond Fay and into the far corner of the net.

The game had barely restarted when another former Hibernian player, Faughnan, received a serious knee injury that ended her afternoon. The defender twisted her knee as she landed awkwardly and after a lengthy period of treatment was carried from the field by members of both teams management.  

On 20 minutes Hibernian scored the equaliser their play merited. Thomson played a great ball down the right wing into space for Murray, the midfielder took a touch before picking out the late run into the box of Cook who sent a powerful header from 16 yards beyond Hutcheson, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Hibs took a great lift from pulling level and within a minute they could have been in front as Burns burst though the heart of the Spartans side with a tremendous run and played the ball to her right to find Grant, the Scotland striker tried to beat goalkeeper Hutcheson with a lob from the edge of the box and although she managed to get the ball past the shot stopper, it was agonisingly just off target.

 

Spartans had a great chance to go back into the lead when a deep free kick from Kerr found Crosbie unmarked inside the Hibernian penalty box but the defender completely missed the ball and the chance was gone. At the other end a snap shot from McBride was just over the bar from a fine flowing move as Hibs continued to play good football.

It took a superb last gasp block from Jones to stop Hibs falling behind as the defender slid in to thwart McWhinnie after the striker had brought the ball down well to strike inside the penalty area. 7 minutes from the half time break and a long ball forward allowed Burns to race clear but the midfielder collided with goalkeeper Hutcheson and Grant fired the lose ball wide from 20 yards with the goal at her mercy.

Hibernian had another good chance soon after when the impressive Thomson sent a deep cross from the right into the penalty area picking out Robertson, but the youngster could only head wide from 12 yards. Spartans had goalkeeper Hutcheson to thank for keeping them level when Murray played Kennedy in on goal and the striker’s powerful shot looked net bound only for the Hutcheson to pull off a fantastic right handed save.

From the corner kick Hibs went even closer when the loose ball broke to Grant but the post this time came to Spartans rescue as the snap shot smashed back off the upright and away to safety. Grant had another chance before the break after being picked out by Thomson but she could only shoot wide of goal.

In the sixth minute of injury time Spartans once again almost scored against the run of play when a corner kick struck the Hibs post. The half ended level but Hibernian had been desperately unlucky not to have been in front as they had more than enough chances to have won more than one game. None-the-less Hibernian played some terrific football and when they got the ball down on the deck and passed it about, Spartans had been left chasing shadows.

Half Time: Hibernian 1 Spartans 1

In the opening minutes of the second half Hibernian should have been in front when Robertson was put through on goal, but with time and space to pick her spot she shot straight at goalkeeper Hutcheson who blocked her effort. Hibs’ Jones was spoken to by the referee from a late challenge on McWhinnie and the Spartans forward was close to scoring soon after from a free kick but the ball was off target.

Hibs made their first change on 56 minutes when Cunningham replaced Robertson and the home side continued to look the more likely of the teams to score. Murray found the run of Grant into the Spartans penalty area but the striker’s shot was covered by Hutcheson who made the save. With Hibernian pressing forward looking for the goal the desperately wanted – they were hit with a classic sucker punch as Spartans scored on the break away.

A long hopeful ball forward from Crosbie saw McBride and McLaughlin chase it but with Hibs goalkeeper Fay well off her line, the Spartans player got their first and lifted a superb shot over the head of the despairing shot stopper and into the net. Just as they did in the first half Spartans had scored against the run of play but once again they were aided by some poor play in the home defence.

Hibernian tried to respond quickly but once again they found goalkeeper Hutcheson in inspiring form for the visitors, this time bravely saving at the feet of Kennedy from Grant’s low cross. On 70 minutes Spartans increased their lead when from a corner kick, Kerr saw her powerful header saved at point blank range by Fay but the ball fell to the impressive Barry who volleyed it into the unguarded net from close range, scoring her second of the match.

 

 

 

Jimmy Burns quickly reshuffled his pack and replaced Murray with Dalziel, whilst at the same time switching his formation from 4-4-2 to 3-4-3, however, by now Hibs looked a defeated side. Their frustration was clearly showing and Burns appeared to be allowing some comments from the Spartans followers to affect her game and she was eventually yellow carded for persistent fouling.

Cunningham released McBride down the left wing and while her cross was poor it was spilled by Hutcheson at the feet of Kennedy, but the goalkeeper reacted quickly to gather before the Hibs striker could pounce. With just 5 minutes remaining Kaney replaced Thomson – the Hibs right back had a superb game, linking up superbly down the right with Murray and is certainly one for the future.

With Spartans having a comfortable lead, they were happy to sit deep and hit Hibs on the counter attack. Hibernian, try as they might, could not find a way through the well organised rear guard of Spartans who might have increased their lead with minutes remaining when Barry fired wide from a good position. The final chance of the game fell to Hibs but Kennedy’s shot was over the bar from 12 yards.

The result was incredibly harsh on Hibernian who played the better football, created the better chances but were wasteful in front of goal. Spartans played well as a team and fought hard for their eventual victory with Hutcheson and Barry their standout players. Hibs now travel to face Glasgow City next weekend in game they can not afford to lose if they still hold out hopes of winning the title.

Hibernian Ladies: Gemma Fay, Hollie Thomson, Rhonda Jones, Frankie Brown, Kirsty McBride, Mandy Burns, Stacey Cook, Joelle Murray, Suzanne Grant, Lisa Robertson, Laura Kennedy. Subs: Mariel Kaney, Danica Dalziel, Hayley Cunningham, Tracey Burns, Nicola Sturrock.

Hibernian Manager Jimmy Burns was ultimately left frustrated at another defeat but he could have asked for anymore effort from his side. He said: I don’t know how we lost that game after dominating and creating so many chances. Just now the girls are lacking confidence and are rushing their passes. I was pleased with the effort from all the girls, they all tried very hard but in the end we never got the win our play deserved.”

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Richard Payne - Report                  Alan Lomax - Photos

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