HIBS Ladies:- Tough run-in

It is going to take all of their physical and mental strength over the final three weeks of the season, if Hibernian Ladies are going to realise their dream of winning the domestic treble. On Wednesday evening the girls began a run of eight matches in just three weeks that will test them to their limits but they got off to the best possible start with an excellent 5-1 victory over City rivals Edinburgh Ladies.

With Shelley Kerr struggling with injury, Stacey Cook slotted into the centre of defence as Hibernian made their intentions felt from the very start. The first chance of the game fell to Suzanne Grant after the ball was worked from wide by Joelle Murray, the striker found herself one on one, but former Hibs goalkeeper Joanna Hutcheson tipped the shot over the bar. The signs were ominous for Edinburgh and son after a long ball played downfield by goalkeeper Gemma Faye found the run of Suzanne Grant and she made no mistake this time firing her team into the lead.

 All the pressure was coming from Hibernian with Edinburgh struggling to make an impact of the game. 10 minutes later Hibs doubled their advantage as Tracy Burns lofted the ball over the heads of the Edinburgh defenders and found the run of Suzanne Grant who calmly slotted the ball beyond Joanna Hutcheson for her second of the game. There was no further scoring in the first half but Hibs did strike the woodwork when Julie Ferguson smashed an effort off the upright from Joelle Murray’s corner.

The second half resumed as the first had ended, with Hibernian in complete control and chances were passed up by Suzanne Grant, Kirsty McBride, Mandy Burns and Natalie Ross who all went close. Edinburgh did force their way back into the game and they pulled a goal back when the Hibs defence was cut out by a long ball forward and Dianna Barry despatched it into the back of the net. Any hopes of a fight back were cut short however when Suzanne Grant sealed her hat-trick by turning a Kirsty McBride cross into the net at the back post.

Suzanne Grant was not finished scoring for the evening and just minutes later she stole the ball from goalkeeper Joanna Hutcheson after she was caught in possession following a back pass and rolled the ball into the empty Edinburgh net. In the final moments Hibernian scored goal number five and it was a moment of genuine quality as Mandy Burns picked the ball up some 25 yards from goal, she took one touch to control it before lofting an effort over the Edinburgh goalkeeper and into the back of the net. A fantastic finish from the Hibs captain who does not seem to score easy goals!.

Full Time: Hibernian Ladies 5 Edinburgh Ladies 1

Hibernian Ladies: Gemma Faye, Julie Ferguson, Tracey Burns, Stacey Cook, Frankie Brown, Joelle Murray, Mandy Burns, Natalie Ross, Kirsty McBride, Suzanne Grant, Laura Kennedy. Sub: Shelley Kerr

 After the game, Julie Ferguson was full of praise for her team-mates and in particular goal scoring hero Suzanne Grant. The Defender commented: ”I felt that we really dominated the game - Kate and Shelley sent us out to perform a certain way and I think we achieved that. We are disappointed to lose a goal but it’s something we will learn from. I thought our forwards were fantastic today they always provided options, with Suzanne Grant on fire - when she’s in that form she’s unstoppable. It was a great win and we hope to take our form into our home game against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

”We have 7 games now to play in three weeks and we know we have to win all of them. We have some huge games coming up but we have to take one game at a time and just now we are looking forward to the game against Kilmarnock as they are always tough opposition. The next few weeks will be a huge test on us physically and mentally. We have 7 games left including a Scottish Cup Final and we also have players involved in a European Championship Qualifier International against Ukraine. We know we have to win all our games and the players and management team are focused on achieving it, throughout the whole season we have stuck together and we will continue to that until the last ball has been kicked.”

Defender Shelly Kerr, who has for most of the season been combining Managing and playing for Hibernian Ladies, has brought in some help for the remainder of the season. In a move that is sure to ruffle a few feathers in Women’s game – Kate Cooper, former head coach of rivals Glasgow City, has joined the Edinburgh side. Cooper has been instrumental in the rise of Glasgow City in recent years and her addition to the backroom team at Hibernian will come as a blow to Hibs title rivals, at such a crucial point in the season.
 

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