Ladies wrap it all up

Hibernian Ladies and Glasgow City squared up to each other in the final game of the season in Dalkeith on Sunday, and with the two top sides clashing it was always going to be an entertaining encounter. But few in the healthy crowd could have imagined the game that was to unfold before them, as Hibernian edged out their rivals to set a record in the SWPL, having won every game during the league season.

Hibernian kicked off and went straight at Glasgow, within a minute the home side were a goal to the good when Joelle Murray played the ball to Kim Little who had evaded the offside trap. She drew the goalkeeper before slipping the ball to Suzanne Grant who was left with an open goal and an easy tap in. It was a fantastic start the game for the league champions and cup winners who were clearly determined to sign off for the season in style.

 Just three minutes later however the score was level as Julie Ferguson was short with a back pass to Stacey Cook, allowing a City midfielder to intercept and play a first time pass through to her striker, who had look at least two yards offside but nevertheless she slotted the ball past the unlucky Joanna Hutcheson and into the net. The Hibs shot stopper was extremely unlucky to see the ball beat her after she had got a strong hand to it. Julie Ferguson immediately made amends for her error when she picked out the run of Kirsty McBride who held off her marker fantastically before smashing a shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net to restore the Hibees lead.

Six minutes gone and already three goals in the game but it could easily have been four when a City forward look to have been well marshalled by the Hibs defence but she slipped between Suzy Robertson and Shelley Kerr and fired in a shot that almost caught out Joanna Hutcheson at her near post but the goalkeeper reacted superbly to block, and soon after Suzanne Grant shot wide from the edge of the box as both sides continued to attack each other with purpose.

Hibs appeared to have a good claim for a penalty when Kim Little was upended in the box after a fine ball from Mandy Burns but the referee waved away their appeals and City charged up the field to grab an equaliser. Again the ball was played through from midfield and the Hibs defence stepped forward to play the attacker offside but once again, despite looking at least a couple of yards offside she was allowed to run clear and pull her side level. The decision outraged the Hibernian bench and the referee had to calm down a heated management team who were rightly aggrieved about their opponent’s goals.

City were certainly up for the game and were desperate to end their relatively disappointing season with the scalp of the league champions, and the Glasgow side were playing well giving Hibs a real run for their money. Good play from Kirsty McBride saw Hibernian awarded their first corner kick but they were not to put the City defence under any real pressure but two minutes later Mandy Burns tried her luck from distance shooting just over the cross bar.

Hibernian finally grabbed the lead for the third time in thirty-six minutes when Joelle Murray picked out the run of Kim Little and the forward looked up before picking out the late run of Suzanne Grant who bulleted a diving header into the back of the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance. Soon after the restart Joelle Murray saw her half-volley fizz just wide from twenty yards before Shelley Kerr had a free kick charged down as Hibernian continued to press their opponents at the end of the first half. The referee’s whistle brought the first half to an end with Hibs worthy of their slender half time lead in a game that was a fantastic advertisement for Women’s football in Scotland.

Half Time: Hibernian Ladies 3 Glasgow City 2

Glasgow City restarted the game as the rain began to fall but the weather was not to dampen this encounter and the commitment of the sides was shown when Suzy Robertson was yellow carded almost straight from kick off. The opening moments of the half were even with both sides giving their all and not holding back as the card count continued to rise.

On the hour Hibernian moved further ahead when Kim Little picked out the run of Suzanne Grant down the right wing, the striker held the ball up before firing a low cross into the middle that was just out of reach of the sliding Kirsty McBride but Kim Little had continued to push forward and kept the ball in play, she jinked between two defenders and curled an exquisite effort past the goalkeeper and into the far corner for her fifty-sixth goal of an incredible season.

 Little’s influence on the game was growing the longer it went and soon after she picked out the deep run of Mandy Burns who ghosted in behind the City defence and was left with only the goalkeeper to beat. With the shot stopper rushing out to close down the angle the Hibs midfielder attempted to lob her but she could not get enough lift on her effort allowing the goalkeeper to save easily. Seconds later Hibs had Joanna Hutcheson to thank for keeping City out when she produced a stunning double save from close range.

Hibs twice went close soon after when firstly Julie Ferguson tried her luck from the edge of the penalty box with the goalkeeper saving low to her left before Kirsty McBride pounced on a defensive mistake before side stepping her marker and firing a powerful shot at goal that brought out a fantastic save from the goalkeeper, again low to her left. The Edinburgh side thought they had extended their lead when a lobbed shot from Suzanne Grant was tipped onto the post by the goalkeeper and Kim Little tapped in the rebound but the striker was adjudged to have been offside and the goal chalked off.

It seemed only a matter of time before Hibernian added to their goal tally and Julie Ferguson was inches away from sliding a low Suzanne Grant cross into the back of the net but the ball was just too far ahead of the Hibs midfielder. Mandy Burns and Joelle Murray were involved in a clash of heads that saw both players require treatment before Hibernian scored a fifth goal. Little charged down a clearance from a City defender and the ball fell perfectly to strike partner Suzanne Grant who floated the ball over the despairing goalkeeper and into the net from twenty yards to complete her hat-trick and grab her forty-second goal of the season.

Three minutes later Hibernian were awarded a penalty kick after Joelle Murray was crudely taken down in the City box. Kim Little stepped forward and her low shot was superbly stopped by the City goalkeeper who guessed right diving to tip the Hibs striker’s shot away, the rebound fell to Kirsty McBride but the winger could only turn the ball into the side netting.

5-2 in the lead and with only twelve minutes to play but City were to make it a nervous last period when they pulled a goal back in the counter attack the ball was played down the right wing and an early cross was turned into the net at the near post. Hibs tried to respond immediately and Suzanne Grant found Kim Little in a packed penalty area, she played it to Julie Ferguson who was lurking at the edge of the box and her first time shot was held under her cross bar by the impressive City goalkeeper. Then with only five minutes remaining City pulled another goal back when once again the swift break down the right saw an early cross tucked away by the City striker.

For a moment or two, Hibernian suddenly became nervous and desperate but with three minutes of normal time reaming they finally killed off Glasgow City. A long ball forward from captain Suzy Robertson caught out the City rearguard who had pushed forward to catch Suzanne Grant offside but they failed to pick up the perfectly timed run of Kim Little who raced clear and was left with only the keeper to beat, the strikers powerful shot was superbly saved by the goalkeeper but Little was first to react and tucked home the rebound to clinch the three points.

At full time it was once again party time for the Hibernian Ladies as they set a new SWPL record of having won every one of their 22 league games and finished eight points clear of nearest challengers Glasgow City. It is now over two seasons since Hibs lost a league game and it will take a truly special side to stop Hibernian Ladies making it a third successive title triumph next year.

Full Time: Hibernian Ladies 6 Glasgow City 4

Hibernian Ladies: Joanna Hutcheson, Frankie Brown, Shelley Kerr, Suzy Robertson, Stacey Cook, Julie Ferguson, Mandy Burns, Joelle Murray, Kirsty McBride, Kim Little, Suzanne Grant. Subs: Debbie McDonald, Natalie Ross, Alison Donnelly, Louise Young.

Richard Payne

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Hiberrnian 6 v 4 Glasgow City

City left Dalkeith empty handed this afternoon, unable to dampen League Champions Hibernians celebrations. Hibernian rounded off a fantastic season with a 6-4 win over a City side still having a number of problems defensively.

Four of Hibernian’s goals were attributable to City errors and despite scoring four themselves, must tighten things up at the back for next season. It is unreal to think that City, who until today had only lost 12 goals in their previous 21 league matches, managed to lose half of that figure in one game today.

On the plus side, top goal scorer Katharina Lindner added a hat-trick to her tally, with Jane Ross getting the other goal. On target for Hibs were Kim Little (2) and Suzanne Grant (3), Kirsty McBride (1).

Manager Peter Caulfield realises there is some work to be done over the summer. He said “It is a disappointing end to a season where we feel we have progressed in football terms. But having said that, there are still a number of areas where we need to improve. Myself and Kate are more and aware of where these areas are and will be doing our utmost in the close season to rectify this.”