Ladies keep up the pace

For the first match in some considerable time, Hibernian Ladies managed to field an unchanged side from the one that hammered Lochee United last week. Still missing through injury were Tracey Burns and Natalie Ross while Mandy Burns was unavailable due to work commitments. On the bench was Stacey Cook hoping to get her first run out following a long-term knee injury.

Right from the start Hibs were on top in this encounter but Forfar, playing with six in midfield were difficult to break down. Hibs to their credit continued to try and play football as it should be played, keeping the ball on the ground and playing some good passing football with fine movements off the ball. In the opening twenty minutes Hibernian did come close with Kim Little, Laura Kennedy, Suzanne Grant and Kirsty McBride all having chances but failing to take them. With the midfield so packed, Hibernian had to find other ways of breaking Forfar down. On a bumpy pitch the final ball from the middle and the wide areas was poor.

Forfar were sitting so deep and trying to frustrate Hibernian but it was only a matter of time before a side of Hibs quality found the break though. The goal when it came was a well worked move, Kim Little made a deep run from midfield, creating space for herself and Laura Kennedy spotted her run and played a perfect pass into her path. Little showed experience beyond her years as she riffled a shot past the despairing Forfar goalkeeper.

Despite the set-back of going a goal behind, Forfar did not alter their game plan which seemed set out to keep the score respectable. Hibernian did create other chances before the end of the half, the best falling for Laura Kennedy, following a ball from Ferguson on the left, she saw her shot thwarted by the feet of the Forfar goalkeeper.

Half Time: Hibernian Ladies 1 Forfar Farmington 0

Having had so much possession without the cutting edge in front of goal, Hibernian changed their formation from 4-4-2 to 3-4-3 and began to move the Forfar midfield around. Forfar did sit back in numbers and as often as possible would have all eleven players behind the ball as they fought as hard as possible to keep the Champions out.

It was without doubt a frustrating game for Hibernian with Joelle Murray and Kirsty McBride both playing well on the wings but the final ball was lacking. Hibs however did double their lead when Kim Little sitting just behind the front two pairing of Laura Kennedy and Suzanne Grant started the move. She drew the defenders before slotting a pass through that left Laura Kennedy with only the goalkeeper to beat and she was calmness personified and she slotted the ball into the back to the net.

With the points assured Hibernian made a couple of changes bringing on Ashleigh McCallum and Stacey Cook. The game was Stacey Cook’s first since suffering a serious knee injury in April’s Scottish Cup clash with Newburgh, a very welcome return for the club of their influential defender and Scotland Internationalist. Hibernian continued to be on top in the encounter without ever really playing their best football but did create further chances through Laura Kennedy and Kim Little but the Forfar goalkeeper was up to the task with two fine saves. With the game petering out Hibernian made their final change bringing on Karen McKenzie and she was to have an immediate impact with a bursting run into the penalty area that took a desperate challenge from the Forfar defence to clear.

The final goal of the game was made by Suzanne Grant, the in-form striker received the ball and her delightful back-heel pass found the run of Little who finished well for her second goal of the game and her seventeenth of the season. In the end whilst disappointed with the overall performance it was another win, another three points and another clean sheet for the club with Forfar giving a determined and dogged display to their credit.

Full Time: Hibernian Ladies 3 Forfar Farmington 0

Hibernian Ladies: Debbie McDonald, Shelley Grant, Suzy Robertson, Frankie Brown, Louise Young, Joelle Murray, Kirsty McBride, Julie Ferguson, Kim Little, Laura Kennedy, Suzanne Grant. Subs: Ashleigh McCallum, Stacey Cook, Alison Donnelly, Karen MacKenzie, and Marlene Pearson

While obviously happy with the win and another three points, Hibs were disappointed with their own performance. Midfielder Julie Ferguson gave her thoughts after the game: “We won the game which was obviously good and we kept a clean sheet but it was probably our worst performance of the season so far. To be honest Forfar and the pitch stifled the way we like to play our game. Forfar flooded the midfield at times, which made it very difficult to get the ball and pass the ball around.

“All in all not a great performance, but credit to Forfar they set out to frustrate us and they did, we failed to really break them down but in the same breath we could have scored a lot more goals had it not been for their goalkeeper. We know we can improve, previous performances this season pay tribute to that, and we know that our game has to be lifted for the tough challenge of Hamilton who are playing well at the moment. We are looking forward to the next game and will go into the game completely focussed.”

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Hibs edged into the lead of the Thompsons Solicitors Premier League with a 3-0 win over Forfar. 

Two goals from Kim Little and one from Laura Kennedy put Hibs one goal ahead of Glasgow City, also on full points. But while Iain Johnston was happy with the result, he wasn’t happy how it had been achieved. “It was possibly our poorest performance this season,” says the Hibs boss. “But credit to Forfar as they stopped us playing the way we like and made things difficult.”