Ladies keep it going

With next weekend seeing Hibernian Ladies and Edinburgh Ladies face each other in the final of the Premier League Cup, Hibs were determined to ensure their preparations went smoothly when in their last match before next week’s showdown they faced third placed Hamilton Accies at home.

Hibernian made one change from last week’s side that defeated Forfar Farmington, Mandy Burns returning to the starting eleven with Laura Kennedy dropping to the bench. Former Hibernian striker Suzanne Malone lined up against her former team-mates having left Hibernian in the summer to join Hamilton.

The game started at a slow pace as both sides sounded each other out but neither imposing themselves on the other. Hibs did show some fine passing moves in the early stages but did not threaten the Hamilton goalkeeper. The away sides 4-5-1 formation was stifling Hibs play but as the half went on they began to dominate and 
control the midfield, the Accies formation allowing the Hibernian defence to pass the ball around the back and build up the play from there.

Hibs went close on a couple of occasions the best of the chances coming from Joelle Murray. Kim Little started a move from the edge of the box where she found Suzanne Grant who passed to Joelle Murray on the edge of the box, she controlled the ball and with the defender advancing she chipped the ball over her head and hit a great volley which was saved by Scottish Internationalist Claire Johnstone. 

Hibernian continued to press at the Hamilton rearguard and both Julie Ferguson and Suzanne Grant both went close before Mandy Burns had a great strike from the edge of the box that went narrowly wide. The first half was a close contest with Hibernian perhaps carrying the edge but Hamilton’s defensive line up ensured it ended in stalemate.

Half Time: Hibernian Ladies 0 Hamilton Accies Ladies 0

If the first half was fairly uneventful the second certainly was not and it began with Hamilton winning a penalty kick soon after the restart. Some sloppy play from the Hibernian midfield allowed Hamilton to gather possession and play in Pamela Liddell, who was adjudged to have been fouled by Hibs Captain Suzy Robertson. The referee awarded a penalty, Hibs second they have conceded in three weeks, and the reigning SWPL Champions were let off the hook as the ball came back off the post.

The rebound fell to the Accies penalty taker but a last gasp block from Frankie Brown thwarted her shot, as the ball broke loose it fell to the feet of Suzanne Malone on the edge of the box, Julie Ferguson and Suzy Robertson both pressed the ball and it came of Ferguson to go out for a corner kick. Hibs dealt with the corner and 
went on the break away, the ball was played out to Kirsty McBride who found the feet of Kim Little she in turn played in Suzanne Grant who narrowly hit her shot wide.

Hibs had been creating the better of the chances in open play and their determination paid off as they took the lead. A ball from the left of the penalty area found Kim Little who knocked it past a defender; she found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball into the net.

With Hibernian scoring first Hamilton were forced to come out more if they were to get back into the game and this suited Hibs who found more space and have the skill to pick teams off from this situation. The second goal duly arrived and it was fantastic counter attacking play, Kirsty McBride hit the ball over the top of the Hamilton defence and found the expertly timed run of striker Suzanne Grant and she ran onto the ball before hitting a low drive which the keeper got her hand to but was unable to keep out.

The loss of the two goals deflated Hamilton and it was no surprise when Hibernian added a third. Kim Little won the ball just inside the Hamilton half and immediately set off toward the Accies goal. She used her strength and skill to hold off defenders and with the keeper racing out, she calmly knocked the ball around her and hit the ball into the empty net. It was Little’s nineteenth goal of the season and she has now scored in five consecutive matches.

Hamilton to their credit kept plugging away and former Hibs player Suzanne Malone hit a great ball forward to the speedy Pamela Liddell, she tried to outrun the Hibs defence just as she was about to unleash her shot, Frankie Brown made a last ditch tackle and the ball broke safely to Louise Young who played the ball up the pitch.

The final goal of the game came from a set piece, Hamilton gave away a free kick on the edge of the box. Kim Little played an inch perfect ball to the back post and it was met by the head of Julie Ferguson to score. Hibs had further chances to score with Burns, Grant, McBride and Little all going close but the final opportunity went to Hamilton and delightful chip from Bev McLaughlin almost sailed into the top corner but goalkeeper Debbie McDonald managed to get her fingertips to the ball and ensure another clean sheet, her fifth in a row.

Full Time: Hibernian Ladies 4 Hamilton Accies Ladies 0

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

Another fine result for the Ladies and Afterwards Julie Ferguson was please: “It was a really good game for the girls and a good result against a very physical and hard-working team. We started off the game quite slowly and the match became a bit of a battle, neither team really took control, we did have some good passing moves in the earlier stages, but didn’t threat the goalkeeper enough. We spoke at half time about how important it was to keep pressing the game and shutting the Hamilton players down. The penalty miss jolted us into life again and our standard of play improved, the whole team began to hunt and press the ball and our domination finally paid off.”

Hamilton’s spot kick miss proved a fatal turning point for them and in the end Hibs class and skill shone through. Julie commented: “Had they scored the penalty the game could have been different but once we took the lead we dominated the play. Right through the team, from defenders, midfielders to strikers we worked very hard as a team to press and get the ball back and our hard work paid off in the goals we scored. We are delighted with the performance and we know that this type of performance will be needed in the Cup Final on Saturday where we will be up against an equally hard working team.”

Co-Manager Iain Johnston added: “It was tight and a hard game as it always is against Hamilton. They are well organised and hard-working, but we dominated the second half and are delighted with another three points to keep the momentum going.” 


Richard Payne

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Sunday 12th November 2006 

Hibs maintained their lead with a 4-0 win at home to Hamilton - but all the goals were scored in the last 40 minutes. With the sides drawn 0-0 at half-time, Hamilton missed a penalty in the first few minutes after the break. Hibs then grabbed control with two goals from Kim Little, and one each from Suzanne Grant and Julie Ferguson.

“It was tight, a hard game,” admits Hibs boss Iain Johnston. “It always is against Hamilton, as they are well organised and hard-working. “But we dominated the second half and are delighted with another three points to keep the momentum going.”